adv
wherefore
WEH-uh-faw
adv
1
For what reason; why (archaic).
"Wherefore art thou Romeo?"
noun
1
A reason or purpose, especially in the phrase "the whys and wherefores."
"She never explained the whys and wherefores of her decision."
How to Use Wherefore
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn old-fashioned word for "why," most familiar from the phrase "whys and wherefores."
Common mistake
The famous Shakespeare line "wherefore art thou Romeo?" means "why are you Romeo" (i.e. why do you have to be a Montague), not "where are you."
When to use it
Archaic — used today mostly for effect or in the fixed phrase "whys and wherefores."
Word Forms
wherefores plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “wherefore”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ art thou Romeo?
Etymology
From Middle English wherfore, built from "where-" (meaning "what") plus "for."