wherso

Middle English

Alternative forms

• whereso, wheresoo (conjunction)
• where so (adverb)

Etymology

From Old English hwǣr + Old English sō; compare Old English phrase swā hwǣr swā.

Conjunction

wherso

1. (locative) wherever, in whatever place, wheresoever
   • 1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Prologues”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC, “Manciple's Tale”, column 1, lines 360–362:

     Whereſo thou come, emong hie or lowe / Kepe well thy tong, and thinke on the crowe

     Wherever you come from, among high or low / Hold your tongue, and remember the crow

   • c. 1491, Anonymous, Croxton Play of the Sacrement, lines 336-337

     Syr, almyghty God mott be yowr gyde, / And glad yow wheresoo ye rest!

     Sir, almighty God be your guide, / And be glad wherever you rest!

2. (non-locative) in whatever case, however
   • 2000, Walter Hilton, Thomas H. Bestul (Editor), The Scale of Perfection [published c. 1475], republished by Medival Institute Publications in Kalamazoo, Michigan, chapter 40, lines 1068-1069.

     For oure Lord gyveth sundri giftes whereso He wole, not oon man al, ne alle men oon, outaken charité whiche is comyn to alle

     For our Lord gives gifts however he wills, not on all men, nor all on men, except for charity which is common to all.

Adverb

wherso

1. (relational) in which, where
   • 1897, Anonymous, George England (Editor), Alfred W. Pollard (Editor); The Towneley Plays, [published c. 1460], republished by Kegan paul, Trench, Trubner & Co., London, The Resurection of the Lord, XXVI, page 393, section (93), lines 558-561.

     In ilk contree where so we lende / By nyght or day, / where so we go, where so we weynd, / Thus shall we say.

     In those same countries where we dwell / By night or day, / wherever we go, wherever we turn, / thus shall we say.