wherefor

adverb

: for which

a mistake the responsibility wherefor is his alone

Word History

Etymology

Middle English wherfor, wherfore for which, for what reason, from where, wher where + for, fore for

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!