if
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
Middle English yif, yef, from Old English ġif.
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Conjunction
if
- Supposing that, assuming that, in the circumstances that; used to introduce a condition or choice.
- If it rains, I will get wet.
- Supposing that; used with past subjunctive indicating that the condition is not fulfilled.
- I'd prefer it if you took your shoes off.
- Although; used to introduce a concession.
- He was a great friend, if a little stingy at the bar.
- (computing) In the event that a statement is true (a programming statement that acts in a similar manner).
- If A, then B, else C.
- Whether; used to introduce a noun clause as the object of certain verbs.
- I don't know if I want to go or not.
- 1715–1717, Matthew Prior, Alma; or, The Progress of the Mind, Canto III:
- Quoth Matthew, “ […] / She doubts if two and two make four, / […] ”
- (usually hyperbolic) Even if; even in the circumstances that.
- 2004, David Lee Murphy and Kim Tribble (writers), Montgomery Gentry (singers), “If It’s The Last Thing I Do” (song), in You Do Your Thing (album):
- If it’s the last thing I do / If it takes me from Tubilo to Timbuktu / If it’s the last thing I do / I’m gonna dodge every road block, speed trap, county cop / To get my hands on you / If it’s the last thing I do.
- 2004, David Lee Murphy and Kim Tribble (writers), Montgomery Gentry (singers), “If It’s The Last Thing I Do” (song), in You Do Your Thing (album):
[edit] Usage notes
- Specifically a subordinating conjunction.
[edit] Derived terms
[edit] Alternative forms
[edit] Translations
supposing that
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whether
(computing)
[edit] Noun
if (plural ifs)
- (informal) An uncertainty, possibility, condition, doubt etc.
- 1709, Susannah Centlivre, The Busy Body, Act III, in John Bell (ed.), British Theater, J. Bell (1791), page 59,
- Sir Fran. Nay, but Chargy, if——— ¶ Miran. Nay, Gardy, no Ifs.——Have I refus'd three northern lords, two British peers, and half a score knights, to have put in your Ifs?
- 1791 January, "Richardſon’s Chemical Principles of the Metallic Arts", in The Monthly Review, R. Griffiths, page 176,
- Well might Bergman add, (in his Scicgraphia,), “if the compariſon that has been made, &c. be juſt.” The preſent writer makes no ifs about the matter, and has ſuperadded a little inaccuracy of his own, […]
- 1709, Susannah Centlivre, The Busy Body, Act III, in John Bell (ed.), British Theater, J. Bell (1791), page 59,
[edit] Derived terms
[edit] Translations
a theoretical condition
[edit] See also
[edit] Statistics
[edit] Anagrams
[edit] French
[edit] Etymology
From Middle French, from Old French if (“yew, yew tree”), from Frankish *īw (“yew, yew tree”), from Proto-Germanic *īwaz (“yew”), from Proto-Indo-European *ei-k-wo, *ei-wo-. Compare German Eibe, Irish eo, Welsh ywen, Latin ūva (“grape”), Russian ива (íva, “willow”), and English yew. Compare also Yves, Yvonne.
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Noun
if m. (plural ifs)
[edit] Volapük
[edit] Etymology
From English.
[edit] Conjunction
if
Categories:
- English terms derived from Middle English
- English terms derived from Old English
- English conjunctions
- en:Computing
- English nouns
- English informal terms
- 100 English basic words
- English subordinating conjunctions
- English two-letter words
- French terms derived from Middle French
- French terms derived from Old French
- French terms derived from Frankish
- French terms derived from Proto-Germanic
- French terms derived from Proto-Indo-European
- French nouns
- French masculine nouns
- French countable nouns
- fr:Trees
- Volapük terms derived from English
- Volapük conjunctions
