adv., conj. arch. [ME. whær swa, se, representing OE. swá hwǽr swá: see WHERE and SO adv. 17 d; Ormin’s form whærs is influenced by ON. hvars = hvar where + es rel. particle.]

1

  1.  = WHEREVER 2, 5.

2

1154.  O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1137. War sæ me tnede þe erthe ne bar nan corn.

3

c. 1200.  Ormin, 1574. & whærs itt iss. Ibid., 4874. & whærse icc amm bitwenenn menn Icc hutedd amm & þutedd.

4

c. 1205.  Lay., 9202. Ah whære swa he fonde enne gume: þe of Rome weore hider icumen, he lette smiten him of þet hæfde.

5

c. 1300.  Havelok, 1349. Þou maght til he aren quike, Hwore so he o worde aren.

6

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Troylus, V. 1797. And red wher so þou be or elles songe, That þow be understonde god beseche.

7

1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. VII. 99. Þenne was ich a-redy … to lacke myn neghebores, Here werkes, here wordes wher-so ich sete.

8

c. 1460.  Play Sacram., 337. Syr Almyghty god mott be yowr gyde And glad yow where soo ye rest.

9

a. 1542.  Wyatt, How to vse the court, 53. Stay him by the arme where so he walke or goo.

10

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., II. i. 18. That short reuenge the man may ouertake, Where so he be.

11

a. 1850.  Rossetti, Dante & Circle, I. (1874), 118. Since I find not one … Whereso I be or whitherso I turn.

12

1870.  W. Morris, Earthly Par., IV. 163. Few indeed were there Who did not pray that well he still might fare Whereso he was.

13

1893.  F. Thompson, Poems, Carrier Song, iv.

        Whereso you keep your state
  Heaven is pitched over you!

14

  2.  = WHEREVER 3.

15

c. 1290.  Beket, 1363, in S. Eng. Leg., I. 145. To spene to him and alle his ȝware-so heo euere come.

16

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 1154. Quar-sa þou wendes in exile.

17

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Sqr.’s T., 118. Wher so yow lyst … Beren youre body in to euery place.

18

1596.  Spenser, F. Q., VI. vi. 29. Ne would the Prince him euer foot forsake, Where so he went.

19

1600.  Fairfax, Tasso, IX. xii. I follow thee, where so thee list to goe.

20

1851.  Neale, Med. Hymns, 154. On must the faithful warrior go Whereso the Chief precedeth.

21

  3.  = WHEREVER 4.

22

a. 1225.  Hwarse [see WHEREOF 2].

23

c. 1340.  Hampole, Prose Treat., 2. Whare-so I be, whare-so I sytt, what-so I doo.

24

c. 1407.  Lydg., Reson & Sens., 3201. Wher so as her sort was set, The knot never was vnknet.

25

a. 1547.  Surrey, Poems, ‘Set me wheras the sonne,’ 11. Thrawle, or at large, aliue whersoo I dwell; Sike, or in healthe.

26

1667.  Milton, P. L., XI. 722. Hee oft Frequented thir Assemblies, whereso met.

27

1868.  Morris, Earthly Par., Prol. 89. To seek your own land, whereso that may be.

28

  † 4.  = WHERE 1 b. Obs. rare.

29

13[?].  Cursor M., 8456 (Gött.). Þe kind of thinges lered he, Bath of tres and grisses fele, Quilk war þair vertus lele … Quer-so þai grew in wode or playn.

30