whoever's

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English[edit]

Etymology 1[edit]

Contractions; whoever + 's.

Contraction[edit]

whoever’s

  1. whoever is
    • 1806, George Colman, The Battle of Hexham ... As Performed at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket. Printed ... from the Prompt Book. With Remarks by Mrs. Inchbald, Longman, Hurst, Rees&Orme, page 48:
      Now, sir, mark;— Whoever's here, would fain be private here; Whoever's here, depend on't, tell I can;— Whoever's here, depend on't, tell I will not.
    • 2002, Keith R. A. DeCandido, The Brave and the Bold: Book One, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN, page 101:
      Whoever's doing this wants you all at each other's throats—fighting each other like animals, rioting like maniacs.
    • 2010, Jeff Garigliano, Dogface, MP Publishing, →ISBN, page 184:
      It's not even a real bus stop, just a gas station where the bus drops off whoever's stupid enough to come to this shitbucket town and picks up whoever's smart enough to leave.
    • 2011, Alayna Williams, Rogue Oracle, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN, page 30:
      Could mean that whoever's behind this is missing some feeling of belonging.
  2. whoever has
    • 2014, Alan Jacobson, The Hunted, Open Road Integrated Media, →ISBN, page 89:
      “Unless whoever's doing this is someone your dog knows.” “He doesn't know anyone well enough to be comfortable like that.” “For all you know, whoever's been handling Tucker could've been coming by your house every day when you weren't home, making friends with him, feeding him treats.”

Etymology 2[edit]

From whoever +‎ -'s (possessive marker).

Determiner[edit]

whoever's

  1. Synonym of whosever
    • 1994, Foreign Broadcast Information Service, FBIS Report: Central Eurasia - Issues 107-111, The Service, page 35:
      Given the observance of the provisions of clause 2 of this article, the organization and its property, wherever and at whoever's disposal it is, shall enjoy immunity from any form of legal interference.
    • 1999, Vikram Seth, An Equal Music, Penguin Books India, →ISBN, page 339:
      Messrs Denton and Denton will sell it to whoever's need is greatest, whoever's purse is deepest, whoever will most recklessly mortgage his future, whoever is of its desirers the most pound-puissant.
    • 2006, Paul Dryburgh, Advance Contracts for the Sale of Wool C. 1200 - C. 1327, List and Index Society, →ISBN, page 45:
      And unless they do this, they have granted for themselves and their heirs and executors and for all others holding their lands and tenements in future, to whoever's hand they might come, that the barons of the Exchequer are to cause the aforesaid sacks of wool or the price of the same to be levied from their goods, lands, tenements and chattels.