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wherefore

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

English

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Alternative forms

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wherefor

Etymology

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FromMiddle Englishwherfor,wherfore,hwarfore, equivalent towhere-(“what”) +‎for. CompareDutchwaarvoor(“what for, wherefore”),Germanwofür(“for what, what for, why”),Danish andNorwegianhvorfor(“wherefore, why”),Swedishvarför(“wherefore, why”). More atwhere,for.

Pronunciation

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enPR:wâ(r)'fô(r)",hwâ(r)'fô(r)",IPA^(key): /ˈwɛə(ɹ)ˌfɔː(ɹ)/,/ˈʍɛə(ɹ)ˌfɔː(ɹ)/
- Audio(Southern England): (file)
(obsolete)enPR:hwûr'fôr",IPA^(key): /ˈʍɜːɹˌfɔːɹ/^[1]
Rhymes:-eə(ɹ)fɔː(ɹ)
Hyphenation:where‧fore

Adverb

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wherefore (notcomparable)

(conjunctive, interrogative, archaic)Why, for what reason, because of what.
- c.1591–1595 (date written), [William Shakespeare], […] Romeo and Juliet. […] (First Quarto), London: […] Iohn Danter, published1597,→OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]:
  Ah,Romeo,Romeo,wherefore art thouRomeo? / Denie thy Father, and refuſe thy name, / Or if thou wilt not be but ſworne my loue, / And il'e no longer be aCapulet.
- 1610–1611 (date written),William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, inMr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, andEd[ward] Blount, published1623,→OCLC,[Act III, scene i],page11, column 2:
  VVherefore weepe you?
- 1611,The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […],→OCLC,Job 21:7, column 1:
  Wherefore doe the wicked liue, become old, yea, are mightie in power?
- 1828 May 15, [Walter Scott], chapter II, inChronicles of the Canongate. Second Series. […] (The Fair Maid of Perth), volume III, Edinburgh: […] [Ballantyne and Co.] forCadell and Co.; London:Simpkin and Marshall,→OCLC,page27:
  And if he preached other than the right doctrine,wherefore did his superiors in the Carthusian convent permit it? If the shepherds turn a wolf in sheep's clothing into the flock, they should not blame the sheep for being worried.
- 1920,Herman Cyril McNeile, chapter 1, inBulldog Drummond:
  "Good morning, Mrs. Denny," he said. "Wherefore this worried look on your face? Has that reprobate James been misbehaving himself?"
(conjunctive, indicative, archaic or formal)Therefore;thus.
- 1830, Joseph Smith Jr., chapter 4, inThe Book of Mormon‎^[2], Jacob:
  For behold, by the power of his word man came upon the face of the earth, which earth was created by the power of his word.Wherefore, if God being able to speak and the world was, and to speak and man was created, O then, why not able to command the earth, or the workmanship of his hands upon the face of it, according to his will and pleasure?
- 2010 March 17, House of the United States,House Resolution 1031‎^[3]:
  Wherefore, Judge G. Thomas Porteous, Jr., is guilty ofhigh crimes and misdemeanors and should be removed from office.

Usage notes

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A common misconception is thatwherefore meanswhere; it is occasionally so used inretellings ofWilliam Shakespeare’sRomeo and Juliet—often for comedic effect. InRomeo and Juliet, the meaning of “Wherefore art thou Romeo?” (Act II, scene ii, line 33) is not “Where are you, Romeo?” but “Why are you Romeo?” (“Why do you have to be a Montague?”, that is, a member of the family which was feuding with Juliet’s family).^[2]

Derived terms

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why and wherefore

(about):hereabout,thereabout,whereabout
(abouts):hereabouts,thereabouts,whereabouts
(after):hereafter,thereafter,whereafter
(again):thereagain
(against):hereagainst,thereagainst,whereagainst
(among):hereamong,thereamong,whereamong
(amongst):thereamongst,whereamongst
(anent):hereanent,thereanent,whereanent
(around):therearound,wherearound
(as):thereas,whereas
(at):hereat,thereat,whereat
(before):herebefore,therebefore
(beside):therebeside
(between):therebetween,wherebetween
(by):hereby,thereby,whereby
(for):herefor,therefor,wherefor
(fore):herefore,therefore,wherefore
(from):herefrom,therefrom,wherefrom
(hence):herehence,therehence
(in):herein,therein,wherein
(inafter):hereinafter,thereinafter,whereinafter
(inbefore):hereinbefore,thereinbefore,whereinbefore
(into):hereinto,thereinto,whereinto
(of):hereof,thereof,whereof
(on):hereon,thereon,whereon
(out):hereout,thereout,whereout
(somever):wheresomever
(to):hereto,thereto,whereto
(tofore):heretofore,theretofore,wheretofore
(under):hereunder,thereunder,whereunder
(unto):hereunto,thereunto,whereunto
(upon):hereupon,thereupon,whereupon
(with):herewith,therewith,wherewith
(withal):herewithal,therewithal,wherewithal

Pronominal adverbs

		about	abouts	across	after	again	against	along	among	amongst	anent^[3]	around	as	at	beit	beside	between	beyond	by	ever	for	fore	forth	forward	forwards	from	hence	in above	in after	in before	in below	in elsewhere	in soever	into	in under	mid^[4]	of	on	out	over	so	soever	somedever	somever^[5]	through	throughout	to	tofore	unto	up	upon	ward	wards	with	withal	within	without
	hence	—	—	—	henceafter	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	henceforth	henceforward	henceforwards	hencefrom	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	here	hereabout	hereabouts	—	hereafter	—	hereagainst	—	hereamong	hereamongst	hereanent	—	—	hereat	—	—	—	—	hereby	—	herefor	herefore	hereforth	hereforward	herefowards	herefrom	herehence	hereinabove	hereinafter	hereinbefore	hereinbelow	hereinelsewhere	hereinsoever	hereinto	hereinunder	heremid	hereof	hereon	hereout	hereover	—	heresoever	—	—	herethrough	herethroughout	hereto	heretofore	hereunto	—	hereupon	—	—	herewith	herewithal	herewithin	—
	hither	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	hitherto	—	hitherunto	—	—	hitherward	hitherwards	—	—	—	—
	how	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	howbeit	—	—	—	however	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	howso	howsoever	howsomedever	howsomever	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	thence	—	—	—	thenceafter	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	thenceforth	thenceforward	thenceforwards	thencefrom	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	thenceout	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	there	thereabout	thereabouts	thereacross	thereafter	thereagain	thereagainst	therealong	thereamong	thereamongst	thereanent	therearound	—	thereat	—	therebeside	therebetween	therebeyond	thereby	therever	therefor	therefore	thereforth	—	—	therefrom	therehence	thereinabove	thereinafter	thereinbefore	thereinbelow	—	—	thereinto	thereinunder	theremid	thereof	thereon	thereout	thereover	—	theresoever	—	—	therethrough	therethroughout	thereto	theretofore	thereunto	thereup	thereupon	—	—	therewith	therewithal	therewithin	therewithout
	thither	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	thitherinsoever	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	thitherto	—	—	—	—	thitherward	thitherwards	—	—	—	—
	what	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	whatever	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	whatso	whatsoever	whatsomedever	whatsomever	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	when	whenabout	whenabouts	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	whenas	—	—	—	—	—	—	whenever	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	whenso	whensoever	—	whensomever	—	—	−	—	−	—	—	−	−	—	—	—	—
	whence	—	—	—	whenceafter	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	whencever	—	—	whenceforth	whenceforward	—	whencefrom	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	whenceward	whencewards	—	—	—	—
	where	whereabout	whereabouts	—	whereafter	—	whereagainst	wherealong	whereamong	whereamongst	whereanent	wherearound	whereas	whereat	—	wherebeside	wherebetween	wherebeyond	whereby	wherever	wherefor	wherefore	whereforth	—	—	wherefrom	wherehence	whereinabove	whereinafter	whereinbefore	whereinbelow	—	whereinsoever	whereinto	whereinunder	wheremid	whereof	whereon	whereout	whereover	whereso	wheresoever	—	wheresomever	wherethrough	wherethroughout	whereto	wheretofore	whereunto	whereup	whereupon	—	—	wherewith	wherewithal	wherewithin	wherewithout
	whither	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	whitherever	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	whitherinsoever	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	whitherso	—	—	—	—	—	whitherto	whithertofore	—	—	—	whitherward	whitherwards	—	—	—	—
	why	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	whyever	whyfor	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	whyso	whysoever	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
^Jespersen, Otto (1909)A Modern English Grammar on Historical Principles (Sammlung germanischer Elementar- und Handbücher; 9)‎^[1], volumes I: Sounds and Spellings,London:George Allen & Unwin, published1961,§ 4.36,page124. ^Gary Martin (1997–) “O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?”, inThe Phrase Finder, retrieved26 February 2017. ^Scottish ^fromMiddle Englishmid ^old dialectal form

Category:English pronominal adverbs

Conjunction

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wherefore

(archaic)Because ofwhich.
- 1611,The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […],→OCLC,Isaiah 30:12–13, column 1:
  Wherefore, thus ſaith the holy one of Iſrael, Becauſe ye deſpise this word, and truſt in oppreſſion and peruerſeneſſe, and ſtay thereon: Therefore this iniquitie ſhalbe to you as a breach ready to fall, ſwelling out in a high wall, whoſe breaking commeth ſuddenly at an inſtant.
- 1914 October –1916 July,Edgar Rice Burroughs,The Mucker, Chicago, Ill.:A[lexander] C[aldwell] McClurg & Co., published31 October 1921,→OCLC:
  Wherefore it was that by the time the authorities awoke to the fact that something had happened Billy Byrne was fifty miles west of Joliet, bowling along aboard a fast Santa Fe freight.

Translations

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because of which

Bulgarian:защо (bg)(zašto),по каква причина(po kakva pričina)
Czech:pročež (cs)
Danish:hvorfor (da)
Dutch:waarom (nl),waarvoor (nl)
Faroese:hví
Finnish:minkä vuoksi,miksi (fi)
French:d’où (fr)
Georgian:რატომ(raṭom),რისთვის(ristvis)
German:warum (de),weswegen (de),wofür (de)
Gothic:𐌳𐌿𐌸𐌸𐌴(duþþē)
Greek:γιατί (el)(giatí)
Ancient:τοιγάρ(toigár),διό(dió),ᾗ(hêi)
Hebrew:למה (he)(lama),מדוע (he)(madua)
Italian:perché (it)
Japanese:何故 (ja)(naniyue, naze)
Latin:quōcircā
Norwegian:hvorfor (no)
Nynorsk:korfor,kvifor (nn)
Polish:dlaczego (pl)
Portuguese:por quê (pt)
Russian:почему́ (ru)(počemú),отчего (ru)(otčevo)
Spanish:por qué (es)
Swedish:varför (sv)
Turkish:niçin (tr)
Ukrainian:чому́ (uk)(čomú),з тако́ї причи́ни(z takóji pryčýny)
Welsh:paham
West Frisian:wêrom

Noun

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wherefore (pluralwherefores)

Anintent orpurpose; awhy.
- c.1594 (date written),William Shakespeare, “The Comedie of Errors”, inMr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, andEd[ward] Blount, published1623,→OCLC,[Act II, scene ii],page88, column 2:
  Ant[ipholus of Syracuse]. Shall I tell you why? /S. Dro. [Dromio of Syracuse] I, ſir, and wherefore; for they ſay, euery why hath awherefore.
- 1905,Lord Dunsany [i.e., Edward Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany],The Gods of Pegāna, London:[Charles] Elkin Mathews, […],→OCLC:
  Let Us make one to seek, to seek and never to find out concerning thewherefore of the making of the gods.
- 1996, Richard Bausch,Good Evening Mr. & Mrs. America, and All the Ships at Sea, page72:
  They want their money without reference to the hows andwherefores.