wherever English · revision 6728

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=971}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /wɛəˈɹɛvə/ ''(UK)''; /(h)wɛɹˈɛvɚ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English wher ever, ware euere, from [[where]] and [[ever]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ As an emphatic form of the question ''where?'': 971 in the OED.^(OED 1989) As a relative, at whatever place: before 1300 in the OED, the late 13th century in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ To any place to which is from about 1375,^(OED 1989) and at any place, somewhere or other, from 1667, the 1660s in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) In any circumstances in which is from 1600.^(OED 1989) Poetry contracts it to ''where'er''.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) The parallel form [[wheresoever]] is by about 1200.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 971 – emphatic where?^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1300 – at whatever place.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1375 – to whatever place.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1667 – at some place or other.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Conjunction===

+ # In or to whatever place or situation: ''sit wherever you like''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # ''(informal)'' Used for emphasis in a question, in place of ''where'': ''wherever did you find it?''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # At any place, no matter where.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[where]]

+ * [[ever]]

+ * [[wheresoever]]

+ * [[whenever]]

+ * [[however]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}