whatsover

Whatsoever is an English determiner and pronoun used for emphasis, meaning whatever or any, often conveying total inclusiveness or negation. It appears in formal or emphatic contexts and is more common in written than in casual speech. In modern usage, it frequently follows words like no or any, as in phrases such as there is no evidence whatsoever or do you have any concerns whatsoever.

Etymology and form: Whatsoever is a compound of what and the archaic suffix -soever. The -soever suffix originated in Old English and Middle English and survives today mainly in fixed, emphatic expressions. Over time, the combination has come to signal a strong, exhaustive scope, rather than a simple question or statement.

Usage and nuance: Whatsoever tends to impart a heightened sense of breadth or absoluteness. It is more often found in formal writing, legal or scholarly prose, and literary styles. In contemporary prose, it is sometimes used for rhetorical effect or to create a deliberately archaic tone. Typical examples include there is no evidence whatsoever and any concerns whatsoever, which emphasize the totality of the negation or scope.

Relation to other terms: Whatsoever is closely related to whatever, whosoever, and howsoever. While whatever is common in everyday language, whatsover carries a stronger, more formal or archaic register and is used selectively for emphasis or stylistic effect.

Overall, whatsoever remains a recognizable but infrequent tool in modern English, reserved for emphatic or stylistic purposes rather than routine communication.