Wherefore

C2 16+

Pronunciation: /wɛrfɔr/

Definitions of wherefore

adverb for what reason or purpose

Example Sentences

A1 She was running late for the bus, wherefore she missed it.

A2 I couldn't find my keys, wherefore I was late to work.

B1 The company decided to cut costs, wherefore many employees were laid off.

B2 The government implemented new policies, wherefore the economy began to improve.

C1 The research team conducted extensive experiments, wherefore they were able to publish groundbreaking results.

C2 The artist spent years perfecting his craft, wherefore his work is now highly sought after by collectors.

conjunction for which reason or purpose

Example Sentences

A1 I am hungry, wherefore I will make myself a sandwich.

A2 She forgot her umbrella, wherefore she got wet in the rain.

B1 He missed the bus, wherefore he had to walk to work.

B2 The company faced financial difficulties, wherefore they had to lay off some employees.

C1 The evidence presented was inconclusive, wherefore the jury had to deliberate further.

C2 The project was behind schedule, wherefore the team had to work overtime to meet the deadline.

Examples of wherefore in a Sentence

formal The defendant's actions were carefully examined, and the judge questioned wherefore he had acted in such a manner.

informal I don't understand wherefore you're so upset about it.

slang I have no idea wherefore he's been avoiding me lately.

figurative The poet pondered wherefore the stars shone so brightly in the night sky.

Grammatical Forms of wherefore

past tense

wherefored

plural

wherefores

comparative

more wherefore

superlative

most wherefore

present tense

wherefores

future tense

will wherefore

perfect tense

have wherefored

continuous tense

is whereforeing

singular

wherefore

positive degree

wherefore

infinitive

to wherefore

gerund

whereforeing

participle

wherefored

Origin and Evolution of wherefore

First Known Use: 1250 year
Language of Origin: Old English
Story behind the word: The word 'wherefore' originated from Old English, where 'hwaer' means 'where' and 'for' means 'why'. It was used in Middle English to mean 'why' or 'for what reason'.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'wherefore' has become less common in modern English and is mostly associated with older texts or formal speech. Its meaning has evolved to be more archaic and poetic, often used to express a sense of curiosity or inquiry rather than a straightforward 'why'.