whoever, pron.
(huːˈɛvə(r))
contr. (poet.) whoe'er (huːˈɛə(r)).
[Orig. two words, who pron. and ever adv. 8 e.]
I. 1. As compound relative, or with correlative in principal clause, which usually follows but occas. precedes; in generalized or indefinite sense: Whatever person or persons; any one who, or any who.
† Formerly also followed by that (that conj. 6).
| c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 47 Hwa efre þenne ilokie wel þene sunne dei,..beo heo dal neominde of heofene riches blisse. c 1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 45 Who euere of freris..wilen goon among sarasyns.., axe þei leue þerof of here mynystris prouyncyal. 1382 ― Matt. xii. 32 Who euere shal seie a word aȝeins mannys sone, it shal be forȝouen to hym. 1561 T. Hoby tr. Castiglione's Courtyer iv. (1577) S iv b, In case a graue Philosopher should come beefore anye of our Princes, or who euer beside, that woulde shewe tham plainlye [etc.]. 1596 Shakes. Tam. Shr. iii. ii. 235 Heere she stands, touch her who euer dare. c 1600 ― Sonn. cxxxiii. 11 Who ere keepes me, let my heart be his garde. 1655 Theophania 173 Whoever have opposed their proceedings,..instead of punishment have been rewarded. 1732 Berkeley Alciphr. i. §16 Whoever acts with design, acts for some end. 1813 Scott Rokeby ii. xxvi, Whoever finds him, shoot him dead! 1833 I. Taylor Fanat. i. 1 Mental disorders which..demand, in whoever would relieve them,..the very purest intentions. 1906 E. V. Lucas Wand. in Lond. i. 14 Whoever lives there believes nobly in heat, for the chimney is immense. |
2. Introducing a qualifying clause with conditional or disjunctive force: If any one at all; whether one person or another; no matter who. (Sometimes with verb in subjunctive.)
Often implying opposition: = ‘notwithstanding any one who’, or ‘notwithstanding that any one’: cf. whatever 3.
| 1500–20 Dunbar Poems xxix. 24 Fra it [sc. my purse] as fra the Feynd thay [sc. coins] fle, Quha evir tyne, quha evir win. 1591 Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, i. iii. 7 Who ere he be, you may not be let in. 1595 ― John v. v. 19 Who euer spoke it, it is true. 1605 ― Macb. iv. i. 47 Open Lockes, who euer knockes. 1667 Milton P.L. x. 14 Not to taste that Fruit, Whoever tempted. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 92 ¶7, I..must here take occasion to thank A. B. whoever it is that conceals himself under those two Letters. 1781 Cowper Expost. 701 If he guard thee.., Whoe'er assails thee, thy success is sure. 1794 Paley Evid. ii. vi. (1817) 126 The books, whoever were the authors of them, were composed [etc.]. 1848 Dickens Dombey xxxiii, Whoever you may be, sir,..I am deeply grateful to you. 1863 M. E. Braddon Aurora Floyd xxx, Whoever it is, I won't see them to-night. |
¶ 3. Used ungrammatically for the objective: Any one whom; whomsoever.
| 1592 Shakes. Rom. & Jul. v. iii. 173 Who ere you find attach. 1613 ― Hen. VIII, ii. i. 47 Who euer the King fauours, The Cardnall instantly will finde imployment. 1780 Mirror No. 95 ¶3 Whoever you marry..will have no reason to complain of your temper. |
II. 4. interrog. [ever adv. 8 d.] An emphatic extension of who, implying perplexity or surprise. colloq.
Properly written as two words.
| [1875 G. W. Dasent Vikings lvi, Who ever would have thought it, a short hour ago?] 1881 R. G. White Eng. Without & Within xvi. 385 Ever is frequently heard in composition thus: ‘Whoever is it?’ ‘Whatever can it be?’ This usage is mostly confined to ladies, and is not regarded as good English. |