/hwut ev"euhr, hwot-, hweuht-, wut-, wot-, weuht-/ , pron.
1. anything that (usually used in relative clauses): Whatever you say is all right with me.
2. (used relatively to indicate a quantity of a specified or implied antecedent): Take whatever you like of these.
3. no matter what: Do it, whatever happens.
4. any or any one of a number of things whether specifically known or not: papers, magazines, or whatever.
5. what (used interrogatively): Whatever do you mean?
adj.
6. in any amount; to any extent: whatever merit the work has.
7. no matter what: whatever rebuffs he might receive.
8. being what or who it may be: Whatever the reason, he refuses to go.
9. of any kind (used as an intensifier following the noun or pronoun it modifies): any person whatever.
interj.
10. (used to indicate indifference to a state of affairs, situation, previous statement, etc.)
[ 1300-50; ME; see WHAT, EVER ]