wherefore
UK /ˈwɛəˌfɔː/ · US /ˈweɹˌfɔɹ/ adverb, conjunction, noun
Forms wherefores wherefor wherfore
- adverb (conjunctive, interrogative, archaic) Why, for what reason, because of what.
- adverb (conjunctive, indicative, archaic or formal) Therefore; thus.
- conjunction (archaic) Because of which.
- noun An intent or purpose; a why.
Synonyms
Etymology
From Middle English wherfor, wherfore, hwarfore, equivalent to where- (“what”) + for. Compare Dutch waarvoor (“what for, wherefore”), German wofür (“for what, what for, why”), Danish and Norwegian hvorfor (“wherefore, why”), Swedish varför (“wherefore, why”). More at where, for.
Webster’s 1913
- adverb For which reason; so; --used relatively.
- adverb For what reason; why; --used interrogatively.
- noun the reason why. [Colloq.]
Etymology [Where + for.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “wherefore”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details