wherefore

Meaning

Adv

1. (archaic, conjunctive, interrogative, not-comparable) Why, for what reason, because of what.
2. (archaic, conjunctive, formal, indicative, not-comparable) Therefore; thus.

Conj

Because of which.

Noun

An intent or purpose; a why.

Synonyms

why

therefore

hence

what for

so

consequently

as

in consequence

reason

whence

for this reason

for what

whereby

cause

by means of which

argal

blame

by which

fault

grain

occasion

thence

thereby

whereof

for that reason

for what reason

for which reason

like so

on which account

Translations

waarom

waarvoor

por qué

pourquoi

weshalve

warum

quare

waardoor

wozu

weswegen

perché

per quale scopo

c’est pourquoi

weshalb

cur

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈwɛə(ɹ)ˌfɔː(ɹ)/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: wherfor

Cognate with Dutch: waarvoor

Cognate with German: wofür

Cognate with Danish: -

Cognate with Norwegian: hvorfor

Cognate with Swedish: varför

In summary

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.