First Known Use: 13th century
Dictionary
1wherefore
adverb where·fore \ˈhwer-ˌfȯr, ˈwer-\
—used in the past to mean “why”
Full Definition of WHEREFORE
1
: for what reason or purpose : why
2
See wherefore defined for English-language learners
See wherefore defined for kids
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Origin of WHEREFORE
Middle English wherfor, wherfore, from where, wher + for, fore for
Related to WHEREFORE
- Synonyms
- accordingly, consequently, ergo, hence, so, thereupon, thus, therefore
Rhymes with WHEREFORE
abhor, adore, afore, and/or, as for, ashore, backdoor, bailor, bandore, Bangor, bedsore, before, bezoar, bookstore, box score, but for, call for, candor, captor, centaur, chain store, claymore, closed-door, cold sore, cold store, condor, Côte d'Or, decor, deplore, dime-store, Dior, done for, donor, downpour, drugstore, Dutch door, encore, ephor, explore, eyesore, fall for, feoffor, fetor, Fillmore, first floor, flexor, folklore, footsore, foreshore, fourscore, French door, full-bore, Gabor, galore, Glen More, go for, ground floor, gun for, hard-core, hog score, ichor, ignore, implore, Indore, indoor, in for, inshore, in-store, Kotor, Lahore, lakeshore, lector, lee shore, lessor, line score, look for, Luxor, memoir, mentor, Mysore, nearshore, Nestor, next-door, offshore, onshore, outdoor, outpour, phosphor, psywar, rancor, rapport, raptor, raw score, Realtor, restore, rhetor, savior, seafloor, seashore, sector, seignior, Senghor, senhor, sensor, settlor, Seymour, signor, smoothbore, s'more, soft-core, sophomore, stand for, stentor, stertor, storm door, Strathmore, stressor, stridor, subfloor, swear for, Tagore, take for, temblor, tensor, therefor, therefore, threescore, Timor, trapdoor, turgor, uproar, vendor, what's more, wild boar, woodlore, z-score
2wherefore
noun
Definition of WHEREFORE
: an answer or statement giving an explanation : reason <wants to know the whys and wherefores>
First Known Use of WHEREFORE
1590
WHEREFORE Defined for Kids
wherefore
adverb where·fore \ˈhwer-ˌfȯr, ˈwer-\
Definition of WHEREFORE for Kids
: 1why
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