whosever

[hoo-zev-er]

pronoun

(the possessive case of whoever used as an adjective): Whosever wagon this is, get it out of here. Whosever is this ridiculous hat?
the one or ones belonging to whomever: Whosever will win, do you think?

Origin of whosever

First recorded in 1730–40; whose + ever

whoever

[hoo-ev-er]

pronoun; possessive whos·ev·er; objective whom·ev·er.

whatever person; anyone that: Whoever did it should be proud. Ask whoever is there. Tell it to whomever you like.
no matter who: I won't do it, whoever asks.
who? what person? (used to express astonishment, disbelief, disdain, etc.): Whoever is that? Whoever told you such a thing?

Origin of whoever

Middle English word dating back to 1125–75; see origin at who, ever

Can be confusedwhoever whomever

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for whosever

Historical Examples of whosever

To be sure it was to Paul alone, that by the voice, whosever it was, any address was made.
Not Paul, But Jesus
Jeremy Bentham
The phrase of whichever (of whichsoever) is used instead of whosever exactly as of which is used instead of whose ( 152).
An Advanced English Grammar with Exercises
George Lyman Kittredge
One glance showed Mary that the letter, whosever it was, had brought unusual news.
The Little Colonel: Maid of Honor
Annie Fellows Johnston

British Dictionary definitions for whosever

whoever

pronoun

any person who; anyone thatwhoever wants it can have it
no matter whoI'll come round tomorrow, whoever may be here
an intensive form of who, used in questionswhoever could have thought that?
informal an unknown or unspecified persongive those to John, or Cathy, or whoever

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for whosever

whoever

late Old English hwa efre.