whatever

I. pronoun Date: 14th century 1. a. anything or everything that <

take whatever you want

> b. no matter what <

whatever he says, they won't believe him

> c. whatnot <

enjoys skiing, hiking, or whatever

> 2. what 1a(1) — used to express astonishment or perplexity <

whatever do you mean by that

> II. adjective Date: 14th century 1. a. any…that ; all…that <

buy peace…on whatever terms could be obtained — C. S. Forester

> b. no matter what <

money, in whatever hands, will confer power — Samuel Johnson

> 2. of any kind at all — used after the substantive it modifies with any or with an expressed or implied negative <

in any order whatever — W. G. Moulton

> <

no food whatever

> III. adverb Date: 1870 in any case ; whatever the case may be — sometimes used interjectionally to suggest the unimportance of an issue or decision between alternatives <

go see a movie, watch TV,— whatever

>