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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.

Quhatsumever, pron. and adj. Also: qwhat-, quwhat-, qwat(e)- and -sumevir, -sumevyr, -sumewer, -sumewir, -sumewyr, -somever, -evir, -samour, -scoumever; qwhatsome evir; whatsumever, -ewer. [North ME quat-sum euer (Cursor M.), what sum euer (c 1400), late ME and e.m.E. what some euer (c 1400), f. north. ME quat sum Quhatsum adj. Variously written as one, two or three words.]Cf. Quhatever.

I. The compound relative pron. in indefinite sense.

1. Used of things: Anything that; passing into: all that. = Quhatever 1.Also const. of as a partitive.(1) 1419 Thanes of Cawdor 6.
And for to halde ferme and stabil quhatsumevir the saide Gilbert … dois1423 (1430) Reg. Great S. 30/2. 1513 Doug. iv x 8.
All beistis and byrdis … And quhatsumeuer in the braid lowys weir 1580 Prot. Bk. J. Scott 98b.
He … to do hant and excerce … quhatsumevir his saidis executouris … dois or leddis to be doin 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 75/1.
That in quhatsumeuer ȝe put in verse, ȝe put in na wordis [etc.] 1622-6 Bisset I 101/27. 1645 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 46.
And allowes … whatsumewer wes done be thame in absence of the remanent magistratis(2) Arundel MS 285/209.
Heirfor quhat sum euer ȝe ask at him ȝe will get it withoutin ony tary 1562-3 Winȝet II 70/27.
Bot quhat sumeuir ony ane … sal wnderstand by al, … lat that be sett asyde(3) c1590 Fowler II 144/31.
Now in quhat sumeuer of thir occurrences, … it war mair expedient thow suld declare thy self ather for the ane or for the other

b. No matter what. = Quhatever 1 b. 1405 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV 172.
That the said Schir Dauid … sal hafe … the lordeschip of Caueris with the pertinencis … qwat sumeuer it be 1422 Stirlings of Keir 208.
With al and syndry othyr fredomys [etc.] … qwhatsumeuer thai be 1603 Philotus 614.
Quhat sumeuer me befall, I hope within thrie dayis I sall Cum quyetly ȝow to

2. Used of persons, chiefly in reference to identity: Whatever person or persons, anyone who or whom, whoever or whomever, he, they etc. is or are (that).Also const. of as a partitive.(1) 1412 Aberd. B. Rec. I 389.
Qwatsumeuer has nocht his wapynnis redy … sal tyne viii s. c1590 Fowler II 45/1.
Considering that our pasteurs succeadis personallie to quhatsumeuer hes borne office in Christis kirk(2) 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 291.
That quhatsumeuer come with any furneissing to Edinburgh, the man to be hangit, and the woman drownit a1578 Pitsc. I 65/6.
Bot quhatsumewer he was so hardie to reproche his doingis … he caussit thame to be adiornit [etc.](3) c1590 Fowler II 77/14.
And quhatsumeuer of the nighbour nations wald attempt to … invade that province, he sal be forced to think tuyse

3. Quhatsumever he (they) be etc. = Quhatever 2.Also quhat sumever that.Also or quhatsumever thay be, = or any such person or persons at all.a. (1) 1393 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 28.
Thair ayris and thair successouris qwat sum euer thai be that makis claime [etc.] 14.. Acts I 31/2.
Quhat somevir he be that is a burges and he be challangyt of ony playnte in quhat sa evir fee he haldis … he aw [etc.] 1456–70 Acts XII 26/1.
Excommunicatioun apone all thaim quhatsumewyr thai be that brekkys the said mortificatioun 1468 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV 406.
That quhatsumeuyr thai be that sall succede to me … the ayris succedande to me … sall be [etc.] 1470 Peebles B. Rec. I 164.
Quhatsumeuir thai war that barganyt … thai sal be had to the tolbuth 1613 Misc. Spald. C. V 217.
That quhatsumeuer he be that impungis ony manis aith … he sall pey [etc.](2) 1465 Peebles B. Rec. I 155.
Quhatsumeuir he be that brekis beif, that the hochis [be] brokin wyth the samynb. (1) 1400 Douglas Chart. 43.
To mi verrai ayris qwatsumevir thai be 1438 Acts II 32/2. a1500 Rauf C. 398.
Ony man … Quhat sumeuer that he be, Bring him haistely to me 1535 Stewart 19797.
Nor na vther quhatsumeuir that thai be Haldis of ȝow(2) 1581 Sat. P. xliv 274.
The vther number of the congregation, Redaris, exhortaris, or quhatsumeuir thay be

II. adj. 4. The compound relative adj. qualifying a following (sing. or pl.) noun: Any (person(s) or thing(s)) that, whatever (person(s) or thing(s)), if any.Also with that (also quhilk) following the noun phrase.

a. Qualifying non-personal nouns.(1) 1437 Rep. Boyle Mun. 7.
Ferme and stabill hafande … quhatsum euir thynge the forsaide … leddis to be done 1452 Aberd. B. Rec. I 20.
And quhatsumeuer thing the forsaides persounes … does, ther sal naman contrar 1505 Lennox Mun. 170.
I haldand … ferme, and stabile all and quhat sumeuer thingis the saidis schireffis deputis … dois [etc.] 1558 Q. Kennedy Tractive (1558) 60.
Quhatsumeuir thing they bid yow do, do it a1578 Pitsc. II 155.
To wse his consall in quhat sum ewer thingis he wald lay to his charge 1588 King Cat. 58.
Quhatsumeuer things ar treue, quhatsumeuer things ar honest c1590 Fowler II 24/18.
He gaue euident signes in quhatsumeuer companie he come in 1595 Aberd. Council Lett. I 62.
Quhatsumever inconvenience sall follow thairupoun may be layed to our charge 1602 Conv. Burghs II 134.
The iust thrid of quhatsumewir fraucht sche makis 1624 Crim. Trials III 559. 1639 Aberd. B. Rec. III 191.
To take away … quhatsumewir fulȝie thay find(2) c1460 Vert. Mess 13.
Quhat-sum-euir thing that men with clen hart … askis at the mes … it salbe grantyt thaim 1584 Edinb. Test. XIII 152b.
That my foirsaid sister … sall peceablie … bruke all and quhatsumeuir gudis & money quhilk I haif left vnto hir c1590 Fowler II 71/8.
Quhat sumeuer government or estate that hes or hes had commandiment ouer men hes bene [etc.] 1641 Acts V 522/2.
With the teyndis of whatsomevir [1817 ed. q^tsomevir] fishes that happines to come in cobilles or boates to be loosed

b. Qualifying personal nouns.(1) c1490 Irland Asl. MS 8/28.
That quhatsumeuer persone … that may say or think thir thre weriteis followand, he sall be saif 1510–11 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 11.
That quhatsumever burges or othir … that settis or haldis in thair tenementis hows or within thaim quhatsumever persoun the setter or the halder of thaim sal [etc.] 1563 Acts II 538/1.
Quhatsumeuer persoun … that will … declair the namis of the hamebringaris of sicklyke fals cuinȝie [etc.] … that persoun … sall haue [etc.] 1571 Lanark B. Rec. 55.
That quhatsumevir nychtbour … that resaitis or luges ony persone … fra aucht houris bell ring … that thei that dois the samin sall be pundit [etc.] c1575 Balfour Pract. 514.
Quhatsumever maner of persoun … hurtis cruellie ony senatour [etc.] … thay sall be … accusit [etc.] 1594 Acts IV 67/1. 1600 Stirling Ant. III 304. 1616 Rec. Old Aberd. I 55.
That q^tsumeuer persone or persones … hes onie actione to intent … they sall first intent the samen befoir [etc.](2) 1518 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 46.
The inquest ordanes that quhatsumever man hawand suyn wythin Selkyrk to kep thaim out of his nychburis scatht 1569 Edinb. Hammermen I 8b.
Quhatsumeuer persone … that beis poyndit … And lousis nocht the samin … In that cais it salbe lesum to the dekyn … to dispone thair vpon at his plesour 1581 Prot. Bk. J. Robertsone MS 10.
To marie … with quhatsumeuir wther woman likis him. … And siclik gif it sall lik the said Barbara to marie … with quhatsumeuir wther man scho plais 1584 St. A. Baxter Bks. 40.
Quhatsumewir brother braikis or contravenis this present act to pay foure pundis 1604 Urie Baron Ct. 7.
That quhat sum euer tennent … that happennis to inwaid his nychbour … sall incur ane pennaltie 1633 St. A. Baxter Bks. 94.
That quhatsumever baxter being ane prenteis [etc.] … and maries ane baxteris dochter sall [etc.]

c. In a noun phrase or an adverbial phrase introducing a conditional-concessive clause: No matter what or which (person or thing). 1447 (1449–50) Reg. Great S. 71/1.
Inhabitantis [of] the said schyrefdome, before quhatsumever juge or jugis thai be athachit, to … bring again to the fredome of the said schyrefdome of Berwic 1456 Hay I 213/2.
And quhat sum ever othir allegeaunce … sum invious folk wald mak aganis the fredome of Fraunce, traist wele it is trwe that thus thai wan thair fredome 1531 Bell. Boece (M) II 26.
Quhatsumeuir waye thir playis war first institute in Florence thai ar ȝite in ȝerelie vse Ib. 253.
Nochtwithstanding quhatsumeuer garesoun be laid in defence therof Ib. 229. 1532 Lamont P. 41.
And that athir of the saidis parteis salbe content quhatsumeuir desicioun that salbe maid to thame be the law 1533 Bell. Livy I 16/1.
That Ascaneus, in quhatsumeuir place or on quhatsumeuir woman he was gottin, was the son of Eneas Ib. 9/13. 1555–6 Edinb. B. Rec. II 239.
That the samyn be neuir gevin in lifrent to ony persoun of quhatsumeuir degre he be of 1581 Burne Disput. 117b.
This promeise sall nocht suffer Christis … kirk to be at onie tyme inuisibil, quhatsumeuer crymes be admittit be the pastoris thairof 1588 Aberd. Council Lett. I 47.
I knaw how ye ar handillit and for my awin pairt I will prefer all honest caus[i]s not withstanding quhatsumever sute may be maid in the contrair 1643 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 109.
That euerie persone of quhat sumewer rank [etc.] … they be … who sall be buried in [etc.] … sall pay thrie pundis

d. Introducing clauses with conditional or temporal-conditional force = if any, whenever any: cf. Quhat 15. 1440 Acts II 55/2.
That quhatsumeuer tyme the said lord of Erskyne be frely enterit in the castell of Kildrummy forsaid … the said lord sal … deliuer the castel of Dumbertane [etc.] 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i 106.
That quhatsomever parte be journeyed in quhatsomeuer court and the baillie of that court assignes ane certaine day and steid to them … and that day any partie of them … be absent for quhatsomever cause it be … the dome … aught to be given against the partie absent

5. By ellipsis of the finite verb constituent of a following clause, passing into a simple indefinite adj. = Any … at all, no matter which or what.Contextually also passing into: Every or all.

a. Preceding the qualified noun.In adj. sequences, in various word orders.(1) 1397 Douglas Chart. 40.
In qwhatsome euir schirrafdomys withtin the kinryk of Scotland 1423 Charter (Reg. H.) C.O. No. 37.
To labor teill manur & occupy qwhatsumeuer partis of the landis of West Lochtrysk now common pastor 1482 Edinb. Chart. 156.
Annais and fructis of quhatsumeuer benefice or kirkis pertening … til ws 1486 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV 76 (see b (1) below). 1510 Reg. Privy S. I 317/2.
To cum to quhatsumever burrowis within the realme quhare thai pleis 1531 Bell. Boece II 12.
The kirkis … of his realme to be sicker refuge to all criminal persons, … nochtwithstanding quhatsumever offence of lese majeste committit be thaim 1555 Glenartney Doc.
[To] transporte & laid away quhatsumeuer wair [etc.] … inbrocht vpoun the sea cost 1570 Crail B. Ct. MS 14 Nov.
With certificatioun to quhatsumeuir persoun doand in contrair thairof, that thai salbe callit and accusit 1580 Acts III 191/1.
That all the haill layit money and vther quhatsumeuir siluer cunȝie within this realme … salbe … reducit [etc.] 1587 Ib. 433/2. 1598 Reg. Great S. 291/1. 1604 Urie Baron Ct. 7.
And quhatsumeuer … expenssis maid be the said James thairone to be refunddit to hym be the lard 1606 Chart. Coupar A. II 220. 1614 Ayr Friars Pr. Chart. 112. 1641 Act Parl. in Peebles Chart. 102.
But qwhatsumewer impediment of any persoune or persounes Ib.
But impediment of quwhatsumewer persoune or persounes duelling within or without the said brugh 1648 Misc. Spald. C. V 332.
With power … to persew whatsumeuer persone or persones havers thairof 1669 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 253.
That whatsumeuer persone listed … and removeing out of the toune vpon that accompt, if free, sall be depryved [etc.] — 1493 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II 212.
That the saydis [etc.] … sal … undirlye … al and quhatsumevir merchis … assygnit merchit and devidit be the saidis assisowris of perambulacione 1587 Acts III 433/1.
Exceptand alsua furth of the said annexatioun all and quhatsumeuer mansionis of personnages … annext to parroche kirkis [etc.] 1600-1610 Melvill 266.
All and whatsumever persones avowit or suspected to be papists(2) 1490 Irland Mir. I 28/2.
That we all, hie and law, riche and pure … , men and women, of quhatsumeuir state, are sonnis and dochteris of [etc.] 1508 Reg. Privy S. I 235/2.
And that thai ces fra … persewing for quhatsumever actiouns 1512 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 138.
And thair to schaw quhat persouns ar seik in quhatsumeuir seikness, and gif thai be negligent [etc.] 1531 Bell. Boece (M) II 33.
Eganus … wald nocht suffir his avn wyiff nor ȝite quhatsumeuer frendis cum to his presens quhill his gard rypit thame Ib. 58.
Peace was necessar in quhatsumeuir sort 1533 Boece 181b.
That euery man mycht before him call quhatsumeuer persouns for iniuris c 1549 Reg. Episc. Aberd. II 308.
With full power … trespassouris and quhatsumevir offendaris and mysdoaris to correk and punys 1550 Elgin Rec. I 104.
Under quhatsumevyr cullour or ingyne 1600 Acts IV 249/2.
All and sindrie meayneis of quhatsumeuir qualitie of mettallis minerallis and materiallis 1633 Inverness Rec. II 173.
Quhatsumevir 1644 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 20.
And affirming that of necessitie they behoved to haue armes and ammunition vpon whatsumeuer termes, quhairwith the saids bailies [etc.] 1658 Ib. 171.
And that all and whatsumewer persons abstaine the said day from the exercise of their ordinarie calling 1660 St. A. Baxter Bks. 127.(3) 1579 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 118.
To seik in the tovnis arteilyre lentt to Andrew Sklater, … and vtheris quhatsumeuir havaris thairof 1587 Acts III 433/2.
Exceptand … all landis [etc.] … quhatsumeuer grantit … be our souerane lord or quhatsumeuer his hienes predicessouris or be quhatsumeuer vtheris personis to ony hospitale 1590 Reg. Great S. 810/2.
At the entres of quhatsumevir the said Davidis airis

b. Following a qualified noun or noun phrase of indefinite reference.(1) 1446 Raine N. Durham App. 22.
We freithe ȝhu & ȝhour borowis qwhatsumeuer fra all maner of borowgang 1486 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV 76.
To … persew be justice befor quhatsumeuer juge spirituale or temporale all and sindry quhatsumeuer lettis or stoppes the said James to bruk … the foresaide mareaghe 1499 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 625.
That gyfe ony of the tenandis … thare catellis or gudis quhatsumeuyr sall hapin … for to be arestit 1519 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 293.
To be tane be the forsaid Villieme or his airis or his assignais quhat samour 1519 Kennedy Aberd. Ann. II 243.
And to uthiris quhatsumeuer thar successours 1531 Bell. Boece (M) II 278.
And to the airis gottin of hir body quhatsumeuir 1576 Reg. Privy C. II 516.
Fra the said Johnne now Erll of Atholl, his collegis quhatsumevir, justices [etc.] … within the boundis of Atholl 1638 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II 440.
To the said erl his heirs maill and assigneys quhatsomever(2) 1468 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV 405.
To me and all myne ayris quhatsumeuyr 1561 Edinb. B. Rec. III 111.
[The council] discharging the confrarie of Sanct Anthonis, the Hally Blude, and all vther confrareis quhatsumeuir 1588 Aberd. Council Lett. I 45. 1595 Buccleuch Mun. 255.
Contrary all vtheris quhat scoumeuer 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii 154. 1610 9th Rep. Hist. MSS App. 240/2.
Hee hes accuset na man quhatsomever to be airt or pairt of that deid 1633 Kennedy Aberd. Ann. II 166. 1638 Rutherford Lett. (1891) 546.
I … defy both the kindness and feud of God's whole creation whatsomever 1658 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 242. 1689 Lanark B. Rec. 233.
To any persone whatsomever(3) [14]87 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 53.
To all our souerane lordis lieges landmen that cumis to this burgh with victuallis quhatsumeuir to sell the samyn but impediment 1499–1500 Grey Friars 24.
[With the] rychtuise pertinence quhatsumevir to the said akyr pertenand 1517 Reg. Privy S. I 448/2.
Or uther wayis quhatsumever 1526 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 81.
Without ple and alligatioun quhatsumever 1587 Acts III 433/2. 1593 Wemyss Chart. 217.
But reclamatioun or againe calling quhatsumeuer 1633 Culross I 170.
And priweledges quhatsumever, sick as mans and gleib 1633 Aberd. Trades 203.
Whatsomever(4) 1429 15th Rep. Hist. MSS App. viii 10 (OED).
Any other accyons qwatesumewer be twyx thaim 1456 Wemyss Chart. 76.
For outyn ony reuocacioun, … or ony agayncalling quhatsumeuer 1482 Edinb. Chart. 155.
Ony vther place quhatsumeuer neidful, or amangis quhatsumeuir merchandis 1508 Mill Mediæv. Plays 137. 1513 Doug. Comm. i Prol. 367.
Animal is ane general name for al sik maner thingis quhatsumeuer 1565 Facs. Nat. MSS III xlvii.
Fre of all other bodelie harme or displesour quhatsumeuir be quhatsumeuir persoun 1568 Anderson Collect. Mary IV 73.
Sence to obey you my deir luife I spare nouther honor, conscience nor gretnes quhatsumever 1576 Dickson & Edmond Ann. Sc. Printing 283.
In ony carecture … translatioun or volume quhatsumevir 1584 Edinb. Test. XIV 37.
All soumes of money & dettis quhatsumeuir auchtand to him be quhatsumeuir persones 1587 Acts III 460/2. 1626 Dundee Chart. 157.
Whatsomever 1663 Decis. Lords G. 48.
In all judicators whatsomever 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. ii xi 5 (1678) 404.
Whatsomever 1679 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 313.
For money or no uther geir quhatsomevir 1680 Edinb. B. Rec. X 419.
Without any maner of … redemptione or regres quhatsomever 1693 Acts IX 312/2.
The bleetching of any linnen cloath whatsomever with lyme

c. Following a definite noun phrase. 1492 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 63.
Gif any nichtbouris … proponis thame in the contrair heirof, it is avysit … that that persoun quhatsumeuer be callit afore the provest 1512 (c 1580) Ib. 137.
That hes nocht reveillit the seiknes that happinit into thair hous quhatsumeuir 1562-3 Winȝet I 12/15.
Praying that wikit persoun quhatsumeuir quhay wald defyle thy conscience … thairwith haistelie to returne to oppin repentance

d. Appar. as a term of modest depreciation: = such as it is (they are). 1531 Bell. Boece I 53.
Quhom [sc. previous authorities] we have determit to follow … to the end of this our quhatsumever werke [M. this oure werk] Ib. 163.
And … we have inserit the eloquent orisonis of [etc.] … word in word as Cornelius Tacitus rehersis thaim in this our quhatsumevir werkis [M. werk]

6. Similarly (cf. 5 above) passing into a simple indef. pron.: Anything at all, no matter what. 1598 Melvill Propine 29.
I feare not … to bee subject … euen to bodilie torments, … banishment, or whatsumeuerels