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Payment vs Wherewithal - What's the difference?

payment | wherewithal |

As nouns the difference between payment and wherewithal

is that payment is (uncountable) the act of paying while wherewithal is the ability and means required to accomplish some task.

As an adverb wherewithal is

(archaic) in what way; how.

payment

English

Noun

  • (uncountable) The act of paying.
  • (countable) A sum of money paid in exchange for goods or services.
  • * , chapter=7
  • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=“[…] This is Mr. Churchill, who, as you are aware, is good enough to come to us for his diaconate, and, as we hope, for much longer; and being a gentleman of independent means, he declines to take any payment .” Saying this Walden rubbed his hands together and smiled contentedly.}}

    Synonyms

    *

    Derived terms

    * down payment * grease payment * lubrication payment * payment in kind

    wherewithal

    English

    Noun

  • The ability and means required to accomplish some task.
  • * I would like to help your project, but I do not have the wherewithal .
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2011 , date=December 15 , author=Felicity Cloake , title=How to cook the perfect nut roast , work=Guardian citation , page= , passage=Christmas queen Mary Berry's aubergine five-nut roast, from her Christmas Collection, is, as the name suggests, rather more focused on the nut side of things. Breadcrumbs play second fiddle to a medley of almonds, Brazils, chestnuts, pine nuts and pistachios which, although tangy with lemon juice and garlic, is outrageously dense. A single slice of this could leave you supine in front of the Queen's speech without even the wherewithal to reach for the remote control.}}
  • * 1986 , , Penguin, paperback edition, page 67:
  • "I just can't imagine," Philip said, "having that kind of self-knowledge, that kind of...wherewithal at fifteen.[...]"

    Adverb

    (-)
  • (archaic) In what way; how.
  • * 1662 , , Psalm 119:9,
  • Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?