Alexander Schmidt, Shakespeare Lexicon and Quotation Dictionary

Which, interrog. pronoun, by which one among a definite number (mostly one of two), is inquired for; referring to things: “to live or die, w. of the twain were better,” Lucr. 1154. “w. end o'the beam should bow,” Tp. II, 1, 131. “w. had you rather, that the most just law now took your brother's life, or . . . give up your body,” Meas. II, 4, 52. “I have many ill qualities? W. is one?” Ado II, 1, 107. “I cannot tell for w. of his virtues it was,” Wint. IV, 3, 94 etc. To persons: w. is worthiest love? Gent. 1, 2, 1, 2 “from w. lord to w. lady?” LLL IV, 1, 105. Gent. V, 2, 32. Wiv. I, 3, 39. IV, 6, 46. Meas. II, 1, 180. V, 483. Err. V, 54. 333 Err. V, 54 LLL I, 1, 182. IV, 1, 42. IV, 1, 42 IV, 2, 86. Merch. II, 1, 33. IV, 1, 174. H4B III, 1, 65. III, 2, 62. H6A II, 2, 34. H6B I, 3, 104. R3 I, 3, 160. Troil. I, 3, 231. Lr. I, 1, 5. IV, 6, 157 etc. “w. of he or Adrian,” Tp. II, 1, 28 (Gallicism). “a moth will turn the balance, w. Pyramus, w. Thisbe, is the better,” Mids. V, 324 (cf. whether . . . or whether). I know not w. is w. (== which is the one, and which the other) Err. V, 364. Mids. II, 1, 114. Tim. II, 2, 82. “what is the night? Almost at odds with morning, w. is w.” Mcb. III, 4, 127. “my virtue or my plague, be it either w.” Hml. IV, 7, 13 (== whichsoever).
Sometimes the number, out of which one is asked forth, not exactly limited; but the question always intended to have one definitively singled out: “who is it that says most? w. can say more than this rich praise that you alone are you?” Sonn. 84, 1 (tell me who is the one that can etc.). w. of you will stop the vent of hearing when loud Rumour speaks? H4B Ind. Sonn. 84, 1 “w. of your friends have I not strove to love?” H8 II, 4, 29. Hence w. way seemingly == what way: “w. way shall she turn?” Ven. 253. “wildly determining w. way to fly,” Lucr. 1150. “how and w. way I may bestow myself,” Gent. III, 1, 87. “go all w. way it will,” R2 II, 2, 87. Cor. II, 3, 27. Caes. II, 4, 21. Lr. II, 4, 25. Cymb. V, 4, 181. “if I discovered not w. way she was gone,” V, 5, 277.