pron. and conj. Obs. (Mostly as two words.) (WHETHER + SO adv. 17 d. In OE. swá hwæþer swá, reduced to swæþer (swá).]
1. pron. = prec.
c. 1200. Vices & Virtues, 113. He hadde auȝene kere to donne hwaðer swo he wolde.
1357. Lay Folks Catech. (L.), 482. Ylke man answere for his owne dedys and be dampnyd or sauyd wheþer-so [v.r. whethir-sum] þey haue seruyd.
1389. Engl. Gilds (1870), 74. To come to þe exsequies of hym or of hir þat is deede, whethir-so it be.
c. 1400. Cursor M., 28788 (Cott. Galba). Whether so askes more rightwisly, Sall be herd of god almighty.
2. conj. = WHETHER B. 5 (the addition of so emphasizing the idea of indefiniteness).
c. 1220. Bestiary, 357, in O. E. Misc., 12. Alle ðe oðre foleȝen, weðer so he swimmeð er he wadeð.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 491. Queðer so it ðhoȝte hem iuel or good.
c. 1325. Song Deo Gratias, 59, in E. E. P. (1862), 126. Wheþer so þou beo in bale or blis.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Frankl. T., 50. Ye shul it lerne wher so ye wole or noon.
1426. Lydg., De Guil. Pilgr., 2560. Wherso be he yong or old.
c. 1475. Rauf Coilȝear, 381. Quhidder sa it gang to greif or to gawin.
