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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Quha-sa-ever, pron. and adj. Also: qwhasa-, quha-se-, quhay-say- and -evir(e, -evere. [North. ME qua-sua-euer (Cursor M.), midl. and south. whosoever, early hwo so ever, hwa se euer (13th c.), f. Quha-sa,pron. Variously written as one, two or three words. Cf. also Quho-so-ever]. As compound relative in indefinite or generalised sense. 1. pron. Whoever, anyone who, if anyone. = Quha-ever 1.Also quhasaever that.(1) 1375 Barb. iii 56.
That quha sa euir had seyne him then … He suld say he awcht weill to be A king of a gret rewate 14.. Burgh Laws c. 86 (A).
Quha sa euer haldis his land xii moneth & a day 1456 Hay I 41/33.
That quhasa ever past out our the wallis of Rome be ony subtiltee, … he suld dee 1460 Aberd. B. Rec. I 405.
And quhasa euer dois thai sal restoir the gudis a1500 Seven S. 889. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 3333.
And quha saever beis inobedient … Thay salbe all deposit incontinent 1551 Hamilton Cat. 49.
Quhasaevir usis wichecraft, [etc.] a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 136/3. 1569 Reg. Privy C. II 1.
Quhasaevir … wald ministrat occasioun of troubill or unquietnes ar inymeis to our said soverane lord 1588 King Cat. 64. 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Actilia. 1622-6 Bisset I 218/30.
Quhasaevir makis … a fals wreit, or is accessour to the making thairof salbe punisched(b) a1400 Leg. S. v 593.
That quha-se-euire vald almus crafe For luf of Sancte Iohne suld hafe(c) 1491 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. I 256.
Quhay say euere be dekin in office for the oulk sale haue the samyn office at the saulez messis(2) 1441 Aberd. B. Rec. I 7.
Quhasaeuer that happynnis to be put furth at lites to be chosin alderman

b. Introducing a clause which is the obj. of a verb: Whoever, anyone who. 1568 Lyndesay Pref. (S.T.S.) 400.
To bruyle and scald quha sa euer suld speik aganis thame

2. pron. As the subj. of a conditional clause: If anyone, should anyone. = Quha 4. a1500 Henr. Fab. 2577.
In play or ernist, preif quha sa euer will

3. pron. Introducing a conditional-concessive clause: No matter who. = Quha-ever 2. 1375 Barb. xi 405 (E).
That quha-sa-euer he war that fand Hys hart nocht sekyr for to stand [etc.] … That he [etc.] 14.. Acts I 30/2.
Quha sa evir he be that sellis his lande … he sall be innouth and sall pas out and the tothir … sall entyr it — c1520-c1535 Nisbet I 5.
Quha saeuir thow be, … [gi]f thow be diligent in the estait that God has callid the vnto, … than art thow surelie blist 1568 Buch. Indict. 34.
Thinkeng to gayn, quhasaeuer lost

4. adj.: Whichever (person). 1571 Haddington Corr. 202.
As he will preif … aganis qwhasaever gentilman of his factioun will present him self