Wherefore definition

wârfôr, hwâr-
wherefores
See word origin
Frequency:
(archaic) For what reason or purpose? why?

Wherefore are you angry?

adverb
5
0
For which.

The reason wherefore we have met.

conjunction
4
0
Therefore.
adverb
5
2
For what purpose or reason; why.
adverb
4
1
A purpose or cause.

Wanted to know all the whys and wherefores.

noun
2
1
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The reason; cause.

Never mind the why and wherefore.

noun
1
0
On account of which; because of which; therefore.

We are victorious, wherefore let us rejoice.

conjunction
1
1
Wherefore means the reason.

An example of a wherefore is the cause of a disaster; the cost and wherefore of a disaster.

noun
0
0
Wherefore is defined as because, therefore or for which.

An example of wherefore used as a conjunction is in the phrase, "the reason wherefore we decided to see that movie."

conjunction
0
0
(conjunctive, archaic) Why, for what reason, because of what.
adverb
0
0
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(conjunctive, archaic or formal) Therefore.
adverb
0
0
(archaic) Because of which.

conjunction
0
0
An intent or purpose; a why.
noun
0
0

Other Word Forms

Noun

Singular:
wherefore
Plural:
wherefores

Origin of wherefore

  • From Middle English wherfor, wherfore, hwarfore, equivalent to where (“=what") +"Ž 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.

    From Wiktionary

Wherefore Sentence Examples

  • Wherefore He asked them, Do ye believe that I am able to do this thing ?

  • On issuing from the Lake of Zurich the Linth alters its name to that of "Limmat," it does not appear wherefore, and, keeping the north-westerly direction it had taken from the Walensee, joins the Aar a little way below Brugg, and just below the junction of the Reuss with the Aar.

  • Wherefore let us forsake their vain doing and their false teaching and turn unto the word which was delivered unto us from the beginning."

  • Wherefore he promised that the world should be dissolved, and that those who were his should be freed from the dominion of the world-creators.

  • He found that he had no supporters save a handful of courtiers and officials and the leaders of his mercenary bands; wherefore in despair he accepted the terms forced upon.

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Words near wherefore in the Dictionary