Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

WHATEVER, conj., adv., pron.  Also Sc. forms whitiver, whatoor (Cai. 1891 D. Stephen Gleanings 138, Cai. 1974); pseudo-Highl. whatef(f)er (Sc. 1886 Stevenson Catriona xiv.). Sc. usages:

I. conj. As much as, to the utmost extent that, = What, V. 2.Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin ix.:
I caught a glisk o' Tibbie trippin' awa doon the Loan, whatever she could bicker.

II. adv., by suppression of the clause after the ordinary conjunctive use: in any case, however, nevertheless, under any circumstances, at all events (Ork., ne.Sc. 1974); in liter. usage freq. ascribed to Highlanders as a translation of the common Gael. co-dhiu, id. Phr. whatever o't, despite the fact, for all that.Cai. 1872 M. McLennan Peasant Life 37:
The Hallowmaes fair 'ill bring her tae the toun whatever.Sc. 1883 Stevenson Letters to Baxter (1956) 123:
There's myself — he's the real Mackay, whatever.Sc. 1893 Stevenson Catriona xvi.:
"The name's naething," said he; "the thing is there, whatever."Kcb. 1900 R. J. Muir Mystery Muncraig xii.:
He held that a beast was a beast and a man was a man, and that a beast's illness could na be a man's illness, whatever.Highl. 1904 A. Geikie Reminiscences i.:
Ye may say what ye like, but I think he canna be a nice man, whatefer.wm.Sc. 1906 H. Foulis Vital Spark ix.:
You werena very far roond the world, whatever o't.Highl. 1932 F. MacColla Albannach vii. iv.:
Ach, they had been in the habit of saying, looking superior, they'll only be singing Gaylic songs whatever.

III. pron. Sc. form of Eng. whatever.em.Sc. 2000 James Robertson The Fanatic 88:
One of the paramedics said sharply, 'Well, we're getting oot o here now, whitiver you decide, or he'll no be appearin in any court, gaun tae the jyle or gaun hame tae his mither.'