Who (hōō), pron.

(hōō), pron. [possess. WHOSE; object. WHOM.] [A-S. hwa, hwā, neut. hwæt, Goth. hvas, hvō, hva, O. Sax. hue, huie, O. Fries. hwa, wa, Icel. hver, hvern, Dan. hvo, Sw. ho, D. wie, L. Ger. we, wer, O. H. Ger. hwer, N. H. Ger. wer; Skr., Lith., & O. Pruss. kas, Lat. quis, qui. Cf. WHAT.] A relative or interrogative pronoun, used always substantively, and either as singular or plural; what or which person or persons. The nominative and objective refer only to persons. The possessive, whose, is the possessive case also of which, as a relative pronoun.

As who should say is used elliptically for as one who should say. Collier.

Who and whom, as relative pronouns, are used of persons only, corresponding to which, as applied to things. Who, whose, and whom, as compound relatives, are also used of persons only, meaning the person that; the persons that; the one that. “The question whose solution I require.” Dryden.

There thou tell’st of kings, and who aspire: Who fail, who rise, who triumph, who do mean. Dryden.

Whom I could pity thus forlorn. Milton.