Definitions
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase ‘the whys and wherefores’
Word origin
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.
Used in a sentence
“Ah, Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? / Denie thy Father, and refuſe thy name, / Or if thou wilt not be but ſworne my loue, / And il'e no longer be a Capulet.”
“VVherefore weepe you?”
“Wherefore doe the wicked liue, become old, yea, are mightie in power?”
Source: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0
Used as a crossword answer1 curated clues
01“Reason why”9 letters
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