† ˈwhetherso, 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. |