we
(wi)
pron.pl., poss. our or ours, 1. nominative plural of
I.
2. (used to denote oneself and another or others, specifically or generally): We have two children. We often take good health for granted.
3. (used in the predicate following a copulative verb): It is we who should thank you.
4. Also called the
royal we. (used by a sovereign or other high officials and dignitaries in place of
I in formal speech.)
5. Also called the
editorial we . (used by editors, writers, etc., to avoid the personal
I or to represent a collective viewpoint.)
6. you (used familiarly, often with mild condescension or sarcasm): We know we've been naughty, don't we?
[before 900; Middle English; Old English wē, c. Old Saxon wī, wē, Old High German wir, Old Norse vēr, Gothic weis]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.