What is "what if"

What \What\, pron., a., & adv. [AS. hw[ae]t, neuter of hw[=a] who; akin to OS. hwat what, OFries. hwet, D. & LG. wat, G. was, OHG. waz, hwaz, Icel. hvat, Sw. & Dan. hvad, Goth. hwa.

1. As an interrogative pronoun, used in asking questions regarding either persons or things; as, what is this? what did you say? what poem is this? what child is lost?

   What see'st thou in the ground?
   --Shak.

   What is man, that thou art mindful of him?
   --Ps. viii. 4.

   What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!
   --Matt. viii. 27.

   Note: Originally, what, when, where, which, who, why, etc., were interrogatives only, and it is often difficult to determine whether they are used as interrogatives or relatives. [1913 Webster] What in this sense, when it refers to things, may be used either substantively or adjectively; when it refers to persons, it is used only adjectively with a noun expressed, who being the pronoun used substantively.

2. As an exclamatory word:

   1. Used absolutely or independently; -- often with a question following. ``What welcome be thou.''
      --Chaucer.

      What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
      --Matt. xxvi. 40.

   2. Used adjectively, meaning how remarkable, or how great; as, what folly! what eloquence! what courage!

      What a piece of work is man!
      --Shak.

      O what a riddle of absurdity!
      --Young.

      Note: What in this use has a or an between itself and its noun if the qualitative or quantitative importance of the object is emphasized.

   3. Sometimes prefixed to adjectives in an adverbial sense, as nearly equivalent to how; as, what happy boys!

      What partial judges are our love and hate!
      --Dryden.

3. As a relative pronoun:

   1. Used substantively with the antecedent suppressed, equivalent to that which, or those [persons] who, or those [things] which; -- called a compound relative.

      With joy beyond what victory bestows.
      --Cowper.

      I'm thinking Captain Lawton will count the noses of what are left before they see their whaleboats.
      --Cooper.

      What followed was in perfect harmony with this beginning.
      --Macaulay.

      I know well . . . how little you will be disposed to criticise what comes to you from me.
      --J. H. Newman.

   2. Used adjectively, equivalent to the . . . which; the sort or kind of . . . which; rarely, the . . . on, or at, which.

      See what natures accompany what colors.
      --Bacon.

      To restrain what power either the devil or any earthly enemy hath to work us woe.
      --Milton.

      We know what master laid thy keel, What workmen wrought thy ribs of steel.
      --Longfellow.

   3. Used adverbially in a sense corresponding to the adjectival use; as, he picked what good fruit he saw.

4. Whatever; whatsoever; what thing soever; -- used indefinitely. ``What after so befall.''
   --Chaucer.

   Whether it were the shortness of his foresight, the strength of his will, . . . or what it was.
   --Bacon.

5. Used adverbially, in part; partly; somewhat; -- with a following preposition, especially, with, and commonly with repetition.

   What for lust [pleasure] and what for lore.
   --Chaucer.

   Thus, what with the war, what with the sweat, what with the gallows, and what with poverty, I am custom shrunk.
   --Shak.

   The year before he had so used the matter that what by force, what by policy, he had taken from the Christians above thirty small castles.
   --Knolles.

   Note: In such phrases as I tell you what, what anticipates the following statement, being elliptical for what I think, what it is, how it is, etc. ``I tell thee what, corporal Bardolph, I could tear her.''
   --Shak. Here what relates to the last clause, ``I could tear her;'' this is what I tell you. [1913 Webster] What not is often used at the close of an enumeration of several particulars or articles, it being an abbreviated clause, the verb of which, being either the same as that of the principal clause or a general word, as be, say, mention, enumerate, etc., is omitted. ``Men hunt, hawk, and what not.''
   --Becon. ``Some dead puppy, or log, or what not.''
   --C. Kingsley. ``Battles, tournaments, hunts, and what not.''
   --De Quincey. Hence, the words are often used in a general sense with the force of a substantive, equivalent to anything you please, a miscellany, a variety, etc. From this arises the name whatnot, applied to an ['e]tag[`e]re, as being a piece of furniture intended for receiving miscellaneous articles of use or ornament. [1913 Webster] But what is used for but that, usually after a negative, and excludes everything contrary to the assertion in the following sentence. ``Her needle is not so absolutely perfect in tent and cross stitch but what my superintendence is advisable.''
   --Sir W. Scott. ``Never fear but what our kite shall fly as high.''
   --Ld. Lytton.

   What ho! an exclamation of calling.

   What if, what will it matter if; what willhappen or be the result if. ``What if it be apoison?''
   --Shak.

   What of this? What of that? What of it? etc., what follows from this, that, it, etc., often with the implication that it is of no consequence. ``All this is so; but what of this, my lord?''
   --Shak. ``The night is spent, why, what of that?''
   --Shak.

   What though, even granting that; allowing that; supposing it true that. ``What though the rose have prickles, yet't is plucked.''
   --Shak.

   What time, or What time as, when. [Obs. or Archaic] ``What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.''
   --Ps. lvi. 3.

   What time the morn mysterious visions brings.
   --Pope.

adv. 1 Used to introduce a suggestion or proposal for a future event. 2 Used to introduce a speculation about a future event. 3 Used to introduce a speculation about a past event. Often the basis for counterfactual historical interpretations.

What If, sometimes rendered as What If...?, is a series of comic books published by Marvel Comics whose stories explore how the Marvel Universe might have unfolded if key moments in its history hadn't occurred as they did in mainstream continuity. What If comics have been published in eleven series (volumes).

What If is a studio album by the jazz fusion band Dixie Dregs, released in 1978.

What if? is a question that often is used in the context of:

• Counterfactual history
• Alternate history
• Uchronia

What If may refer to:

"What If" is a song by Creed, released as the second single from their 1999 album Human Clay.

In the song, Scott Stapp sings about hatred and those who oppress others. According to guitarist Mark Tremonti, the intro was inspired by the song " Paint It, Black" by The Rolling Stones.

The song was used in the 2000 film, Scream 3, for which Creed helped to produce the soundtrack. The music video portrayed Creed band members being "killed" by the infamous Ghostface character from the Scream films. The video features actor David Arquette.

Stapp sings the title of the song 53 times in total.

The song was performed by Chris Daughtry on the fifth season of American Idol.

Along with " Bullets", it is one of Creed's heaviest songs, and one of their few metal songs.

"What If" is the debut single by English actress Kate Winslet. Released as a single in November 2001, it is taken from the animated film Christmas Carol: The Movie which is based on the Charles Dickens classic novel. Winslet provided the voice of Belle in the feature, which also stars Nicolas Cage, Jane Horrocks and Simon Callow. "What If" was written and produced by Steve Mac and is a ballad that follows the film's theme, as Belle laments the end of her and Scrooge's relationship and wonders what could have been. It was the only song to be released from the official movie soundtrack.

News that Winslet was secretly recording the one-off single to vie for the 2001 UK Christmas number one spot was reported in the Daily Mirror. In the event, the song entered the UK Singles Chart at number six, and was beaten to the Christmas top spot by Robbie Williams and Nicole Kidman's version of " Somethin' Stupid". "What If" debuted at Number 1 on the Irish Singles Chart on 7 December 2001, toppling Irish television puppet Dustin's version of " Sweet Caroline". It remained at number 1 for four weeks. The song also topped the charts in Austria and Belgium (Flanders) singles chart, was a Top 10 hit in Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands, and won the 2002 OGAE Song Contest.

An accompanying music video, which was directed by Paul Donnellon and produced by Chris Horton, shows Winslet walking around an old Victorian house, along with clips from the film. At Winslet's request, the proceeds from the single were given to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and Sargent Cancer Care for Children.

"What If" is a song written by Diane Warren, originally recorded by Brenda K. Starr for her 1991 album By Heart. The song was covered in 1995 by Belgian jazz band Vaya Con Dios on their album Roots and Wings.

"What If" was the second and last single released from 112's 2005 album, Pleasure & Pain.

"What If" is a Swedish anti- bullying song by Friends featuring Darin, a Swedish singer of Kurdish origin. The song was written by David Jassy and produced by the Swedish producers Twin.

The song was included in Darin Zanyar's album Flashback as a bonus track. The credits are: Niclas Molinder, David Jassy, Joacim Persson and J. Alkenäs. A&R Jonas "Lawrnz" Johnson, Legend Music Group

"What If" is the fourth single released by Jason Derulo on his self-titled debut album. The single was first released in the UK on July 26, 2010, where it peaked at number 12, marking Derulo's fourth consecutive Top 20 hit in the country. The piano intro in "What If" is inspired by that of " Alone" by Heart.

What If is the second solo release by former Styx guitarist Tommy Shaw. Released in 1985, the album received somewhat favorable reviews. The album peaked at #87 on the Billboard 200.

The album is named after the track, Remo's Theme (What If), which is the theme song for the character Remo Williams in the movie Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins. The song was not released on a soundtrack and was first made available on What If.

"What If" is a song recorded by American recording artist Colbie Caillat. It was written by Caillat, Rick Nowels and Jason Reeves, and produced by John Shanks. The song was released as a promotional single from the soundtrack of the film Letters to Juliet and later was included on her third studio album All of You.

"What If" is a song recorded by Russian singer Dina Garipova. The song was written by Gabriel Alares, Joakim Björnberg and Leonid Gutkin. It is best known as Russia's entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 to be held in Malmö, Sweden. The song qualified the first semi-final of the competition on 14 May 2013 and placed 5th in the final on 18 May 2013, scoring 174 points. Dina also sang the song at the closing ceremonies of 2013 Summer Universiade in her hometown Kazan.

"What If" is a song written, co-produced and performed by American contemporary R&B musician Babyface, issued as the second official single from his sixth studio album Face2Face (following the promotional single "Baby's Mama"). The song peaked at #80 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2001.