“what” in Latin

Without reference to any antecedent, qualis (of what sort or kind): qui (of what character): quis (who): quantus (how great). What joy! quod gaudium! what a troublesome business! quam molesta res! what kind of man do you suppose me to be? quis tibi videor?

With reference to an antecedent, qui. What (= that which) you told me, id quod or ea quae mihi dixisti.

interrog., (dependent and independent), qui? quis? quinam? quisnam? The forms compounded with nam add life and spirit to the question [ = what, pray? pray, what?]. They may be used in direct as well as indirect questions; mostly when the answer “no” is expected [quaenam sollicitudo vexaret impios sublato suppliciorum metu?]On the difference between quis, quid, aud qui, quae, quod, observe (1) that quis is used substantively; qui, adjectively [a distinction which is lost in the oblique cases, and even in plur. nominative]. (2) When quis is found with a substantive [i. e., apparently used adjectively], the inquiry is after the name only, not the kind or character: quis philosophus... pronuntiavit? he asks “who, being a philosopher, or what philosopher, has uttered the sentiment?” qui philosophus... pronuntiavit, would = “what sort of a philosopher?” So when qui is used substantively, it refers to the character or sort. Themistocles domino navis qui sit aperit [not only who, but how great a man]; quis sim, ex eo, quem ad te misi, cognosces writes Lentulus to Catiline in an anonymous letter; the name, therefore, is meant; qui sis, non unde natus sis, reputa = “remember what you are, of what character;” so in direct questions, occiso Roscio qui primus Ameriam nuntiat? [Rosc. Am., 34.] Zumptwould read quis, but Krüger observes thtre is also reference to the character of the messenger, Mallius Glaucia. There are, however, some passages, even in prose, where quis is used for qui; e.g., quisve locus [Liv., 5, 40]; and qui appears to be used for quis occasionally on euphonic grounds; e.g., before s or a vowel, as, qui scit? for quis scit? Zumpt, 134; Krüger, 430. Kuhner, 125. (3) The neuter quid is used in definitions, etc., quid est mulier? quid sunt divitiae? also with reference to a person’s character; neque enim tu is es, qui quid sit, nescias [so with demonstrative and relative, quod ego fui... id tu es]. ecquis? (ecquae, ecquod, asks with liveliness and emotion whether there is any, implying there is not, ecqua civitas est tam potens, ... rex denique ecquis est, qui senatorem populi Romani tecto ac domo non invitet?)

What (= what sort of); what sort of, qualis; sometimes qui, quis. We have seen above that this meaning belongs principally to qui, and to the neuter quid. The neuter may be followed by a genitive, exponam vobis breviter quid hominis sit (Cic., Verr., 2, 2, 54); so quid hoc turbae est?, etc., sciturum, quid ejus esset (Cic., Fam., 16, 2). What a man he is! qualis hic est vir! qui vir! what a friend the person to whom I have entrusted my property has turned out! qualine amico mea bona commendavi! he has written me word what (=what kind of) works he has read, scripsit mihi quos libros legerit.

What? (in abridged sentences of surprise, etc., followed by another question), quid (nonne etc.; e.g., quid? eundem nonne destituisti? Cic.).

What... for? (why?) quid, or the adverbs for why [Vid:] . Tell us what you are come for, eloquere, quid venisti, Plaut.; so quid ego argumentor? etc. (Cic.). What reason is there for, etc., quid causae est, cur, etc.: what reason, then, have you for complaining? quid est igitur, quod querare?

☞ What, sometimes = “how great,” quantus [e.g., in what dangers I have escaped! I will warn him what a disgrace it is, quanto opprobrio sit]. ☞ I don’t know what to write, non habeo quid scribam [nihil habeo, quod scribam = I have nothing to write; Pract., Intr., App., 27].