wherefore

American  

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

adverb

1. Archaic. for what? why?

2. for that cause or reason.

   Wherefore let us be grateful.

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noun

1. the cause or reason.

   to study the whys and wherefores of a situation.

wherefore British  

/ ˈwɛəˌfɔː /

noun

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

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adverb

1. archaic for what reason? why?

1. archaic for which reason: used as an introductory word in legal preambles

wherefore Idioms  

1. see whys and wherefores.

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Related Words

See therefore.

Etymology

Origin of wherefore

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

Example Sentences

Appearing before the Democratic faithful at the state party convention in San Francisco, hopefuls offered the whys and wherefore of their candidacies.

From Los Angeles Times

Mescal doesn’t spell out the whys and wherefores of his character’s pain.

From Los Angeles Times

“What do you mean? What do you demand of your captain? Are you, then, so easily turned from your design? Did you not call this a glorious expedition? “And wherefore was it glorious?

From Literature

Any hint would be a giant step toward understanding the whys and wherefores of our own origins.

From New York Times

There were “wherefore”s and “hear ye, hear ye”s.

From The New Yorker