whoever English · revision 5396

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=c. 1175}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /huːˈev.ə/, /hʊˈev.ə/, US /huːˈev.ɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a compound of [[who]] and [[ever]],^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) from late Old English hwā ǣfre, introducing clauses.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Any person whatever, as a compound relative: late Old English in Etymonline, about 1175 in the OED.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ By the late 14th century it was used as “is there anyone who”.^(Etymonline) Introducing a clause with conditional force, “no matter who”, is from 1500–20.^(OED 1989) Its use for the object, “anyone whom”, is from 1592 and was called ungrammatical by the OED,^(OED 1989) as in Shakespeare's “Whoe'er you find attach”.^(SOED 2002) As an emphatic form of who in questions (''whoever could that be?'') it is from 1875.^(OED 1989) The related ''whosoever'' is attested from about 1200.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1175 – any person who.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1200 – ''whosoever''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1500–20 – no matter who.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1592 – for whomever.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1875 – emphatic who.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Pronoun===

+ # Any person who: ''whoever wants it can have it''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # No matter who.^(Collins 2023)^(SOED 2002)

+ # An emphatic form of [[who]] in questions: ''whoever told you that?''^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(informal)'' Some unknown or unnamed person: ''John, Cathy or whoever''.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[who]]

+ * [[whomever]]

+ * [[whosoever]]

+ * [[whatever]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}