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wherefore

adverb
where·​fore | \ ˈhwer-ËŒfȯr How to pronounce wherefore (audio) , ˈwer-\

Definition of wherefore

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : for what reason or purpose : why
2 : therefore

wherefore

noun

Definition of wherefore (Entry 2 of 2)

: an answer or statement giving an explanation : reason wants to know the whys and wherefores
Synonyms Wherefore and Shakespeare More Example Sentences Learn More about wherefore

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Wherefore and Shakespeare

Adverb

When Shakespeare's Juliet asks, "O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?" she is not inquiring into her beloved's whereabouts. Rather she is asking why it is that Romeo must be Romeo, a member of the Montague family and, therefore, an enemy of Juliet's own family, the Capulets. Yet, wherefore does wherefore mean "why"? Starting in the early 13th century, a number of new words were formed by combining where with a preposition. In such words, where had the meaning of "what" or "which," giving the English language such adverbs as wherein ("in what"), whereon ("on what"), and wherefore ("for what"). English speakers have largely dropped the adverb wherefore in favor of why, but the noun wherefore, meaning "an answer or statement giving an explanation," continues to be used, particularly in the phrase "the whys and wherefores."

Examples of wherefore in a Sentence

Adverb

 it was getting late, and wherefore we decided to move on

Noun

 demanded to know the whys and wherefores for the decision

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

 In addition to gleaning the why and wherefore behind America’s foundational document, teenage listeners will meet up with the Declaration of Independence and a roster of seminal Supreme Court decisions. — Louis Bayard, New York Times, "Audiobooks for Summer Trips With the Kids," 28 May 2018 The book casts its spell in revealing the whys and wherefores of the killings, as investigated by Burke’s onetime high school classmate, Rob Barrett, a Boston FBI agent whom Burke likes nothing better than to humiliate. — Lloyd Sachs, chicagotribune.com, "Crime fiction to heat up your summer reading list," 21 May 2018 Harris will explain the whys and wherefores of rituals and the choreography of services. — Courant Community, "Community News For The South Windsor Edition," 5 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'wherefore.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of wherefore

Adverb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1590, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for wherefore

Adverb

Middle English wherfor, wherfore, from where, wher + for, fore for

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More Definitions for wherefore

wherefore

adverb
How to pronounce wherefore (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of wherefore

—used in the past to mean "why"

See the full definition for wherefore in the English Language Learners Dictionary

wherefore

adverb
where·​fore | \ ˈhwer-ËŒfȯr How to pronounce wherefore (audio) , ˈwer-\

Kids Definition of wherefore

: why entry 1

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More from Merriam-Webster on wherefore

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with wherefore

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for wherefore

Spanish Central: Translation of wherefore

Nglish: Translation of wherefore for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of wherefore for Arabic Speakers

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