wherefore

English

Pronunciation

• enPR: wâ(r)'fô(r)", IPA: /ˈweə(r)ˌfɔː(r)/, SAMPA: /"we@(r)%fO:(r)/
• enPR: hwâ(r)'fô(r)", IPA: /ˈʍeə(r)ˌfɔː(r)/, SAMPA: /"We@(r)%fO:(r)/

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.

Adverb

wherefore (not comparable)

1. (conjunctive, archaic) Why, for what reason, because of what.
   • "Job", Holy Bible King James Version, 21:7:

     Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?

   • 1595, William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

     Romeo, O Romeo. Wherefore art thou, Romeo?

   • 1595, William Shakespeare, A Comedy of Errors

     Every why hath a wherefore.

2. (conjunctive, archaic or formal) Therefore.

Usage notes

• A common misconception is that wherefore means where; it has even been used in that sense in cartoon depictions of Romeo and Juliet, often played for comedic effect. In Romeo and Juliet, the meaning of “Wherefore art thou, Romeo?” (Act 2, scene 2, line 33) is not “Where are you, Romeo?” but “Why are you Romeo?” (i.e. “Why did you have to be a Montague?”).

See also

• Category:English pronominal adverbs

Conjunction

wherefore

1. (archaic) Because of which.
   • Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon:
     Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant. (Isaiah 30:12-13)

Translations

because of which

Danish: hvorfor (da) Dutch: waarom (nl), waarvoor (nl) French: d'où (fr) German: warum (de) Greek: γιατί (el) Italian: perché (it) Norwegian: hvorfor (no)

Polish: dlaczego (pl) Portuguese: por quê (pt) Russian: почему (ru) Spanish: por qué (es) Swedish: varför (sv) Welsh: paham (cy) West Frisian: wêrom (fy)

Noun

wherefore (plural wherefores)

1. An intent or purpose; a why.
   • 1996, Richard Bausch, Good evening Mr. & Mrs. America, and all the ships at sea, page 72:

     They want their money without reference to the hows and wherefores.

Derived terms

Terms derived from the adverb, conjunction, or noun wherefore

whys and wherefores