white

UK: waɪt | US: waɪt

Definition
  1. adj. of the color of milk or fresh snow; reflecting nearly all light

  2. n. the color resembling milk or fresh snow

  3. vt. (archaic) to make white or pale

Structure
whit <bright/light>whit <bright/light>
Etymology

The word white traces back to the Proto-Indo-European root ḱweyt- ("to shine; bright"), which also gave rise to words like wheat (from its light color) and Sanskrit śveta ("white"). Its Germanic form hwītaz emphasized luminosity, linking whiteness to purity and light in cultural contexts. The silent -e emerged later, reflecting spelling conventions rather than phonetic shifts.

Examples
  1. She wore a white dress to the wedding.

  2. The walls were painted white to brighten the room.

  3. Snow covered the mountains in pure white.

  4. (Archaic) The bleach will white the stained fabric.

  5. His hair turned white with age.