What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Wherefore vs Herefore - What's the difference?

wherefore | herefore |

As adverbs the difference between wherefore and herefore

is that wherefore is why, for what reason, because of what while herefore is for this reason; on this account; therefore.

As a conjunction wherefore

is because of which.

As a noun wherefore

is an intent or purpose; a why.

wherefore

English

Adverb

(-)
  • (conjunctive, archaic) Why, for what reason, because of what.
  • * 1920 , (Herman Cyril McNeile), Bulldog Drummond Chapter 1
    • "Good morning, Mrs. Denny," he said. "Wherefore this worried look on your face? Has that reprobate James been misbehaving himself?"
  • * "Job", Holy Bible King James Version, 21:7:
    • Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?
  • * 1595 ,
    • Romeo, O Romeo. Wherefore art thou, Romeo?
  • * 1595 ,
    • Every why hath a wherefore .
  • (conjunctive, archaic, or, formal) Therefore.

    • Usage notes

    * A common misconception is that wherefore means where''; it has even been used in that sense in cartoon depictions of Romeo and Juliet, often played for comedic effect. In ''Romeo and Juliet'', the meaning of “Wherefore art thou Romeo?” () is not “''Where'' are you, Romeo?” but “''Why are you Romeo?” (i.e. “Why did you have to be a Montague?”).

    See also

    *

    Conjunction

    (English Conjunctions)
  • (archaic) Because of which.
  • :* Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon:
    Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.     (Isaiah 30:12-13)
  • :* {{quote-book
    • , year=1914 , year_published=2009 , edition=HTML , editor= , author=Edgar Rice Burroughs , title=The Mucker , chapter= citation , genre= , publisher=The Gutenberg Project , isbn= , page= , passage=Wherefore it was that by the time the authorities awoke to the fact that something had happened Billy Byrne was fifty miles west of Joliet, bowling along aboard a fast Santa Fe freight. }}

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An intent or purpose; a why.
  • *

    • Derived terms

    * whys and wherefores

    References

    English conjunctive adverbs English pronominal adverbs

    herefore

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (l)

    Adverb

    (-)
  • (now, formal) For this (l); on this (l); (l).

    • References

    * “ † Herefor, -fore, adv.'']” listed on page 238 of volume V (H–K), § i (H) of '''' [1st ed., 1901]
    † Herefor, -fore,''' ''adv.'' ''Obs.'' exc. ''Sc.'' [f. Here ''adv.'' 16 + For ''prep.'': compare ''therefore''; Du. ''hiervoor'', Ger. ''hierfür'', Da. ''herfor''.] [¶] '''1.''' For this: instead or in consideration of this, with a view to this. Still in occas. Sc. use, written ''herefor''. [¶] ''a'' '''1300''' ''Cursor M.'' 17506 Þir guiftes her for [''Cott.'' þar-for] giue we ?u. ''c'' '''1380''' Wyclif ''Sel. Wks.'' III. 343 He was tau?t to strive not herfore. '''1549''' Chaloner ''Erasmus on Folly'' Sija, Herefore haue I obteined the mercy of god. ''Mod. Sc.'' For the sum of twenty pounds, being the consideration herefor given. [¶] † '''2.''' For this reason, on this account, therefore. [¶     ''c'' '''1200''' ''Vices & Virtues'' 5 Hierfore ic am neðer and unmihti. ''c'' '''1330''' R. Brunne ''Chron.'' (1810) 149 Herfor kyng Richard wrathes him. '''1380''' ''Lay Folks Catech.'' (Lamb. MS.) 66 Here-fore þe gospel of Mathew seys þat crist bad vs pray thus. '''1480''' Caxton ''Chron. Eng.'' li. 35 Saynt albone suffred his martirdome before that saynt edmond was martryd and herfor saynt albone is callyd the fyrst martir of Englond. '''1581''' Pettie ''Guazzo’s Civ. Conv.'' i. (1586) 2, I will not heerefore commende you so much. ''c'' '''1620''' A. Hume ''Brit. Tongue'' (1865) 13 Heerfoer, for distinctiones of both sound and symbol, I wald commend the symbol and name of i and u to the voual sound. '''1697 Dallas ''Stiles i. 84 Herefore I beseech your Lordships, that ye would..ordain the said Director..to grant..Precepts. * “ †herefor, -fore, adv.''” listed in the ''Oxford English Dictionary (second edition, 1989)