pron. and a. Obs. exc. dial. (In early use often as two words or three.) [f. prec. + EVER adv. 8 e.]

1

  1.  a. pron. = WHATEVER 2 a.

2

c. 1400.  Maundev. (Roxb.), xxvi. 123. Þai will graunt þam what sum euer þai asch.

3

c. 1530.  in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. II. I. 312. Yff your Grace wold witsaffe to wryght iij. wordes to the sayd Archibishope shewyng hyme, whatt so mever hathe ben wrytyn.

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1581.  Satir. Poems Reform., xliv. 274. The vther number of the congregation, Redaris, exhortaris, or quhatsumeuir thay be.

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1602.  Shaks., Ham., I. ii. 249. And what someuer els shall hap to night, Giue it an vnderstanding but no tongue.

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1648.  Earl Westmld., Otia Sacra, 67. Whatsome’r both Earth and Air afford.

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  b.  adj. = WHATEVER 2 b.

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c. 1400.  Rom. Rose, 5041. But what som euer woo they fele, They wole not pleyne.

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1523–34.  Fitzherb., Husb., § 168. Whatsomeuer thynge is gyuen vnto them for the loue of hym, he taketh it as it were done to hym-selfe.

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1588.  A. King, trans. Canisius’ Catech., 58. Quhatsumeuer things ar treue, quhatsumeuer things ar honest.

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c. 1610.  Sir J. Melvil, Mem. (1683), b 2 b. Favourites … who … take pleasure of whatsomever Recreation they find the Prince inclined to.

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1634.  in J. Russell, Haigs (1881), 207. Whatsomever bonds are in Moneys in my behoof.

13

  2.  a. pron. = WHATEVER 3 a.

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a. 1300.  Cursor M., 10508. ‘Anna,’ he said, ‘þou ma god chere Quat-sum euer þou se or here.’

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c. 1430.  Syr Gener. (Roxb.), 2804. Wel am I wroken on the, What som euer fal on me.

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c. 1485.  Digby Myst., III. 1235. Whatt-so-mewer yow be-tyde.

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1508.  Fisher, 7 Penit. Ps. ii. Wks. (1876), 35. Alwaye content what someuer god sent vnto them.

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1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. ccxii. 106 b/2. Our subiectes, comons, colleges, vniuersities, or syngular personnes, what someuer they be.

19

1603.  Philotus, lxxvii. Quhat sumeuer me befall.

20

  † b.  Whoever: = WHATSO 2 b. Obs.

21

c. 1450.  in Three 15th Cent. Chron. (Camden), 98. That the justice may do upon them trew jugement, what some evar they be.

22

c. 1475.  Rauf Coilȝear, 398. Quhat sumeuer that he be, Bring him haistely to me.

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1535.  Stewart, Cron. Scot. (Rolls), I. 641. Nor na other, quhatsumeuir that thai be, Haldis of ȝow or ȝour auctoritie.

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1601.  Shaks., All’s Well, III. v. 54. What somere he is He’s brauely taken heere.

25

  c.  adj. = WHATEVER 3 b.

26

1482.  Caxton, Trevisa’s Higden (Rolls), I. 363. No man … schal be i-saued, but he be verrey repentaunt, what sommeuer penaunce he doo.

27

1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. ccxii. 107 b/1. Subiectes, (whatsomeuer estate or condicion they be of).

28

1533.  Bellenden, Livy, I. Prol. (S.T.S.), I. 7. In quhatsumeuir way It sall happin.

29

1606.  Shaks., Ant. & Cl., II. vi. 102. All mens faces are true, whatsomere their hands are.

30

  3.  a. adj. = WHATEVER 4 a.

31

1429.  in 15th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. VIII. 10. Any other accyons qwatesumewer be twyx thaim.

32

1482.  in Charters Edin. (1871), 155. Ony vther place quhatsumeuer neidful, or amangis quhatsumeuir merchandis.

33

1588.  in J. Melvill’s Autob. & Diary (Wodrow Soc.), 266. All and whatsumever persones, avowit or suspected to be Papists.

34

1678.  G. Mackenzie, Crim. Laws Scot., II. xi. § 5 (1699), 202. In all the Courts of Bishops, Abbots, and the Lords whatsomever.

35

1711.  in Nairne Peerage Evid. (1874), 132. Him his heirs and successors whatsomever.

36

1842.  Barham, Ingol. Leg., Ser. II. Dead Drummer. I can’t see no Drummer-boy here whatsumdever.

37

1894.  Crockett, Raiders, xviii. Silver Sand had no cloak or plaid whatsomever.

38

  † b.  pron. WHATEVER 4 b. Obs.

39

1648.  Earl Westmld., Otia Sacra, 54. Our Lust, our Pride, Ambition, Or whatsome’r beside.

40