whomever
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Meaning
used as the object of a verb or preposition to refer to any person at all, when it is the object of the verb or preposition
used instead of 'whoever' as the object of a verb or preposition in formal contexts
Structure
Usage
send the invitation to whomever you wish.
the prize will be awarded to whomever the committee selects.
he is free to consult with whomever he pleases.
Etymology
The word 'whomever' is a compound formed in Middle English by combining the objective pronoun 'whom' with the intensifying adverb 'ever'. 'whom' itself derives from Old English 'hwām', the dative case of 'hwā' (who), which has Proto-Germanic and ultimately Proto-Indo-European origins in interrogative/relative stems. 'ever' comes from Old English 'ǣfre', of uncertain origin but possibly meaning 'always'. The literal construction 'whom-ever' means 'any person whom (as object)', creating a fused relative pronoun used for indefinite or free choice reference. Its usage has become largely formal in Modern English, often replaced by 'whoever' even in object positions, but it remains prescribed in careful writing to maintain case agreement.
Analysis
whom (old english) - the objective case form of the interrogative/relative pronoun 'who', serving as the object. ever (old english) - an adverb meaning 'at any time', used here as an intensifier to mean 'any at all' or 'no matter which'.