We use cookies to enhance your experience on our website. By clicking 'continue' or by continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. You can change your cookie settings in your browser at any time.

Continue
Find out more

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

WHATSOMEVER, adj., pron. Also †quhatsomever, -evir; and fanciful forms whatsomdiver, -sumdever.

I. adj. Whatever (Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl.; Sh., Cai., Abd., Slg., Peb. 1974); also in legal formulae, who(m)soever.Ayr. 1705 Mun. Irvine (1891) II. 126:
Upon every sack of Meill, Corne, Beir, Pease, Beans, and all other graine quhatsomever . . . quich shall be imported into the harbour of this Burgh by quhatsomevir person or persons.
Sc. 1727 W. Macfarlane Geog. Coll. (S.H.S.) I. 125:
Failing her, falls to the heirs of her body whatsomever.
Sc. 1749 Rec. Conv. Burghs (1915) 327:
Whatsomever person or persons by whom he shall happen to be employed.
Ayr. 1823 Galt Entail xxxix.:
I'll no sign ony paper whatsomever.
Sc. 1867 N. Macleod Starling (1881) x.:
I'm not aware that you have any right whatsomever to correct my error.
Cai. 1887 B. Watten Stratharran i.:
Threatenin' instant eviction to ony person whatsomever.
Dmf. 1898 J. Paton Castlebraes 135:
It's no possible tae gang on leevin' on ony ither terms whatsomdiver.
Abd. 1955 W. P. Milne Eppie Elrick xii.:
Tae encoonter whatsomediver may befa's.

II. pron. Anything of consequence or importance. The quot. is not genuine dialect.Sh. 1902 J. Burgess Some Shet. Folk 86:
It ain't nothin' whatsumdever to me, I tell dee.

[O.Sc. quhatsumevir, from 1482. Obs. in Eng. exc. dial. from the 17th c., from what + relative adv. -sum + ever.]

Whatsomever adj., pron.

29257

snd