Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

Quhether-ever, pron. and conj. Also: quhethir-, -yr-, qwhethir- and -evyre, -ir, -ewyre. [Cf. e.m.E. whether euer pron. = whichever of the two (1621, 1632; thereafter appar. obs.).] Only in early verse. a. pron. Whichever of the two. b. Only Sc. conj. Whether. = Quhether conj. 2. —a. 1375 Barb. xi 644 (E).
Quhether-euer him [C. Quhethir him euir] happyn to wyn or los I will nocht for him brek purpos ?1438 Alex. ii 2280.
And takkis in thank … Trauell or eis quhethir euer scho will c1420 Wynt. iv 562.
Drynk or lewe, quhethyr evyre [C. qwhethir euir, W. quhether euer] thow wylle —b. c1420 Wynt. v 1332.
Thoucht that stat … War noucht spylt in swylk ane-othyr Quhethir ewyre [W. quhether that] he ware sone or brodyre c1420 Ratis R. 380.
Godis preuate Wirkis the contrar … But nocht but caus … Quhethir euir it sorow be ore seill