hwæt gif

Old English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /xwæt jif/, [ʍæt jif]

Adverb

hwæt ġif

1. what if
   • late 10th century, Ælfric, "Saint Basilius, Bishop"

     ...hwæt gif ic bide merigenes?

     ...What if I bide till morning?

   • The Legend of St. Andrew

     Ġēa hlāford, and hwæt ġif iċ swelcne mann ġemēte? Hwelċe mēde sċeal iċ him behātan?

     Yes lord, and what if I find someone like that? What kind of reward should I promise them?

Descendants

• English: what if