wherefore

[ hwair-fawr, -fohr, wair- ]
/ ˈʰwɛərˌfɔr, -ˌfoʊr, ˈwɛər- /

adverb

Archaic. for what? why?
for that cause or reason: Wherefore let us be grateful.

noun

the cause or reason: to study the whys and wherefores of a situation.

Origin of wherefore

Middle English word dating back to 1150–1200; see origin at where, for

synonym study for wherefore

2. See therefore.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH wherefore

where wherefore

Words nearby wherefore

Example sentences from the Web for wherefore

British Dictionary definitions for wherefore

wherefore
/ (ˈwɛəˌfɔː) /

noun

(usually plural) an explanation or reason (esp in the phrase the whys and wherefores)

adverb

archaic for what reason? why?

sentence connector

archaic, or formal for which reason: used as an introductory word in legal preambles

Idioms and Phrases with wherefore

wherefore

see whys and wherefores.