adv. Forms: see WHITHER adv., SO, and EVER adv.; also 4 contr. whidur-sever. (In early use as two or as three words.) [f. prec. + EVER adv. 8 e; cf. SOEVER.] To whatever place. a. To (or in) any place to which: = WHEREVER 3.

1

c. 1230.  Hali Meid., 25. Folhen godd almihti … hwider se he eauer wendeð.

2

c. 1320.  Cast. Love (ed. Hall.), 1785. Thei shull be so lyȝht and swyft, That whidur-sever they thenk they may be lyft.

3

1464.  Rolls of Parlt., V. 567/2. Over the See, or whether soo ever it please theym.

4

1535.  Coverdale, 2 Sam. viii. 6. Ye Lorde helped Dauid whither so euer he wente.

5

1622.  R. Hawkins, Voy. S. Sea, § 45. 111. The Marchant having bought the goods, hee might presently transport them whethersoever he would.

6

1748.  Richardson, Clarissa (1768), VI. 277. I will … attend you whithersoever you please.

7

1863.  Hawthorne, Our Old Home, Leam. Spa. He has a right to go whithersoever they lead him.

8

1885.  Spectator, 30 May, 704/2. With Victor Hugo inspiration is the whole of art, to be followed blindly whithersoever it may lead.

9

  b.  Whether to one place or another; no matter to what place: cf. WHEREVER 4.

10

1583.  Melbancke, Philotimus, F iv. I remit thy crime howsoeuer or whithersoeuer thou wentest.

11

1749.  Fielding, Tom Jones, VIII. x. Whoever you are, or whithersoever you are going,… I have Obligations to you which I can never return.

12

1837.  Carlyle, Fr. Rev., I. IV. iv. So walks Father Gérard; solid in his thick shoes, whithersoever bound.

13

1913.  G. Birdwood, in Athenæum, 23 Aug., 183/3. Whatsoever you may be doing, or whithersoever you may turn.

14

  So † Whithersum, † Whithersomever advbs. [see SUM rel. adv. 2, SOMEVER], in same senses.

15

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 6359. Queder-sum he welk her or þare, Þis wandes euer he wit hun bare. Ibid., 6666. Til ilk sted Quider-sum he þat folk ledd.

16

a. 1483.  Liber Niger, in Househ. Ord. (1790), 19. Clerkes and yeomen … to precede the King … whythyr somever the King go.

17

1485.  Caxton, St. Wenefryde, 16. Euery man myght go … peasybly whyder someuer he wold.

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1526.  Tindale, Matt. viii. 19. Whythersumever thou goest.

19