whatever

whatever [hwut ev′ər, wutev′ər]

pron.

1. what? which thing, event, circumstance, etc.?: an emphatic interrogative, expressing perplexity or wonder [whatever can she mean by that?]

2. anything that [tell her whatever you like]

3. no matter what [whatever you may think, he's innocent]

4. the amount, portion, or part that [take whatever you need from our supply]

5. Informal anything else of the sort: usually preceded by or [use a pencil, a pen, (or) whatever]

adj.

1. of no matter what type, degree, quality, etc. [to make whatever repairs are needed]

2. being who it may be [whatever man told you that, it is not true]

3. of any kind: used following the word that it modifies [I have no plans whatever]: Also Old Poet. whate'er [hwut ev′er, wut′ev′er′]