whereofadv.
/wəˈrɒv/, /wɛːˈrɒv/, /wɛˈrɒv/, U.S. /(h)wɛˈrɔv/, /(h)wɛˈrɑv/ Now formal or archaic.
I. interrogative. Of what.
1. † a. in various obsolete senses of of v.: esp. From what source, whence; to what purpose, what..for; for what reason, wherefore.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > causation > cause or reason > [adverb] > why, wherefore, or for what reason
for whyc1000
whereofc1175
wheretoa1225
whereforec1230
whereata1325
how1340
wheretilla1400
whereupon1535
wherebya1616
whaffor1922
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 2931 He sahh þatt ȝho wiþþ childe wass & nisste he nohht whær offe.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 3530 Hu he sulen maken Ðe tabernacle, and wor-of taken Ðe gold and siluer.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 9687 Quar-of serues ani a-sise Of sothfastnes, or of iustise, Bot for to yeme þe pes in land.
c1400 Pety Job 283 in 26 Pol. Poems 130 Wherof than shulde I presume To be hygh-herted or lyghtly wroth?
1528 T. More Dialogue Heresyes iv, in Wks. 273/2 Wherof shal reason serue if man had no power of himself towarde the direccion of his own workes?
1579 T. North tr. Plutarch Liues 25 (margin) Manipulares whereof so called.
b. in various current senses of of v.
ΚΠ
c1400 26 Pol. Poems 64 Where-of is mad al mankynde?
c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) xxxiii. 150 Whare off þe wall es made, can na man tell.
c1400 Pilgr. Sowle (1859) v. i. 71 I not what to asken, ne wherof for to speke.
a1586 in W. A. Craigie Maitland Folio MS (1919) I. 238 Thus wait I nocht quhairof to wryt.
1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice i. i. 4 What stuffe tis made of, whereof it is borne, I am to learne. View more context for this quotation
1608 W. Shakespeare King Lear iv. 284 Now Gods that we adore, whereof comes this? View more context for this quotation
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost vii. 64 To know..how this World..first began, When, and whereof created. View more context for this quotation
1755 S. Johnson Dict. Eng. Lang. (at cited word) Whereof was the house built?
II. relative. Of which.† 9. To which, whereto (of prep. 60). Obsolete. rare.
2.
a. From or out of which (as source or origin, in the way of result or consequence, liberation or privation, etc.), whence (of prep. I.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > causation > source or origin > [adverb] > from which source or origin
whennec888
thennec897
hereofc1200
whereof?c1225
thereofc1230
wherehenc1475
thereoutc1480
there-whynec1485
here-hence1526
therehence1528
hereout1541
hence1551
whereout1569
herefrom1594
hencefrom1596
thence1652
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 12 Ach hwerse mon & mimmon liueð bi him ane..of þinges wið uten warof schonde ne come. nis naut muche strengðe.
c1275 Laȝamon Brut 26090 Telle of þine cunne war of þou hart ispronge.
1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. iv. 60 A cours of kynde wher-of we comen alle.
1481 W. Caxton tr. Siege & Conqueste Jerusalem (1893) ccix. 305 The holy sepulcre where he laye deed in, and out wherof he aroos fro deth to lyf.
1562 W. Turner 2nd Pt. Herball f. 96v [Polygala] hath sede besyde euery lefe, wherof it is called the male.
1567 in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. iv. 5 The ruite quhair of I did spring.
1611 Bible (King James) Deut. xxviii. 27 The itch, whereof thou canst not bee healed. View more context for this quotation
1613 Bp. W. Cowper Holy Alphabet 236 Wherof we learn, that..if when we haue fallen, we rise & repent, it is euer to be imputed to God that teacheth vs.
1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory iii. 259/2 By Avoir-du-pois Weight is weighed..all things whereof comes waste.
b. Of which material substance (of prep. VII.).
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > [adverb] > of or from which material
whereofa1400
whereon1583
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 368 Þe mater of þe four elements..Quar of was serenes siþen scapen.
1594 T. Bowes tr. P. de la Primaudaye French Acad. II. 49 That matter whereof Kernels are made.
c1620 A. Hume Of Orthogr. Britan Tongue (1870) i. iii. §3 These and al other diphthonges I wald counsel the teacheres not to name be the vouales quherof they are maed.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost vi. 518 Mineral and Stone, Whereof to found thir Engins. View more context for this quotation
1794 R. J. Sulivan View of Nature I. 107 The pre-existent..matter whereof bodies are formed.
3. For, by reason of, because of, or on account of which; wherefore (of prep. 12, 13). Chiefly in constructional dependence on certain classes of words.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > causation > cause or reason > [adverb] > on account of which or wherefore
wherethroughc1220
wherethorough?c1225
whereforec1230
forwhyc1275
whereofa1325
whereup1340
wherebyc1380
whereonc1420
whereuponc1485
on account1817
(on) account of1928
a1325 Statutes of Realm in MS Rawl. B.520 f. 80v Send .iiij. ichosene kniȝttes..to seon were he be sik ware of he soined him of sik bedde.
1411 Rolls of Parl. III. 650/2 I knowe wele that I haue failled..yow,..wherof I beseke yow of grace and mercy.
1484 W. Caxton tr. Subtyl Historyes & Fables Esope xi [He] oughte to doo good..wherof other may preyse hym.
1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) iii. 106 He knewe well that they were of his faders folke. Werof he was full sory for it.
c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) lxii. 215 Huon gaue her a ryche gyft, wherof humbly she thanked hym.
1539 Bible (Great) Psalms cxxvi. 3 The Lorde hath done greate thynges for vs all ready, wherof we reioyse.
1609 W. Shakespeare Troilus & Cressida i. iii. 139 The feuer whereof all our power is sick. View more context for this quotation
1618 in Southampton Court Leet Rec. (1907) iii. 544 The wall..is much impared & verye daungerous whereof wee desier the same to be amendyd verye speedelye.
4. By means of which, with which, whereby, wherewith (of prep. VI.). Obsolete or rare(archaic) except with full, etc. (= of which).Also with ellipsis of antecedent as object of a verb: = that by which, that with which: cf. wherewith adv. 2b, wherewithal adv. 2b.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > instrumentality > [adverb] > by which means or by means of which
wheremidc1160
wherebyc1200
wherethorough?c1225
wherewithc1230
wherewith1297
witha1300
wherethrough13..
whereof1340
withal1389
how1390
wherewithal1578
wherewithal1618
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 119 Þise byeþ þe graces huer-of he wes al uol.
1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. xiv. 40 Lyflode..Wher-of or wherfore or where-by to lybbe.
c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) Pref. 2 For þe whilk land ilke a gude Cristen man þat may, and has wharoff, suld enforce him for to conquere oure right heritage.
c1450 Mirk's Festial 4 Ȝe hadden ynogh wherof to haue fed me.
1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie iv. xxxi. 154 [They] kept their wyues..vnder lock and key, for feare least they should gette of theyr neyghbours, whereof sometymes theyr iealous husbandes could not furnish them.
c1592 C. Marlowe Jew of Malta iii. iv Borgia's wine, Whereof his sire..was poyson'd.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Timon of Athens (1623) iv. iii. 195 Dry vp thy Marrowes, Vines, and Plough-torne Leas, Whereof ingratefull man..greases his pure minde. View more context for this quotation
5.
a. About or concerning which; in regard to or in respect of which (of prep. XI.).In quot. c1400 elliptical or as nominal relative = in that in respect of which.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > [adverb] > in relation or with reference to or concerning > concerning which or wherein
whereinnec1275
whereofa1300
whereinc1400
where-offena1450
whereof1469
whereuponc1515
whereintill1516
whereabout1538
whereanent1579
a1300 Cursor Mundi 1624 Als it in noe flod be-fell, Quare of i sal yow siþen tell.
c1400 Rom. Rose 2311 Where of that thou be vertuous, Ne be not straunge ne daungerous.
1526 Bible (Tyndale) Acts xvii. 19 Thys newe doctrine wher off thou speakest.
1560 T. Wilson Arte Rhetorique Prol. to Rdr. That I was in farther perill, then wherof I was aware.
1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie i. xvii. 19 b He had vnderstanding, that the Frigate..was of Malta, whereof he thought very straunge.
1611 Bible (King James) 1 John iv. 3 This is that spirit of Antichrist, whereof you haue heard, that it should come. View more context for this quotation
1672 A. Marvell Let. 2 Nov. in Poems & Lett. (1971) II. 275 We shall now shortly come to a good issue. Whereof therefore you may please to advertise your worthy society.
1742 H. Walpole Let. to H. Mann 25 Sept. Our Duke goes..they say, to marry a Princess of Prussia, whereof great preparations have been making.
1868 W. Morris Earthly Paradise ii. 382 More precious gifts..Whereof not e'en in dreams they could have thought.
b. to know whereof one speaks (or writes, etc.): to know what one is talking about, to speak from experience.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > knowledge, what is known > experience > be experienced [phrase]
to know the ginc1530
to know what something is1535
to find (know, etc.) the length (also measure) of a person's foot1580
to know one's way around1814
to be more than seven1896
to know whereof one speaks (or writes, etc.)1922
1922 H. Van Loon Story of Mankind xliii. 256 He [sc. Erasmus] had travelled a great deal and knew whereof he wrote.
1967 R. Stein Great Cars 165/1 Ettore Bugatti knew whereof he spoke when he advised people griping about hard starting to keep their cars in heated garages.
1975 Publishers Weekly 24 Mar. 42/2 Fischer has been a lifelong reporter on public affairs and was on LBJ's Commission on Rural Poverty, so he knows whereof he writes.
6. Of which, in objective senses (of prep. XII.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > [adverb] > in relation or with reference to or concerning > concerning which or wherein
whereinnec1275
whereofa1300
whereinc1400
where-offena1450
whereof1469
whereuponc1515
whereintill1516
whereabout1538
whereanent1579
1469 in S. Tymms Wills & Inventories Bury St. Edmunds (1850) 50 In wittenesse qwherof I haue set to myn seele.
1561 T. Norton tr. J. Calvin Inst. Christian Relig. i. To Rdr. Whereof I geue to the godly reders a new profe in this setting fourth of this boke.
1593 W. Shakespeare Venus & Adonis sig. Fiij Like one that spies an adder,..iust in his way, The feare whereof doth make him shake, & shudder. View more context for this quotation
1676 J. Ray Corr. (1848) 123 Reputation (to the vanity of any affectation whereof I desire to be wholly mortified).
1702 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion I. i. 10 In dispensing whereof, he was guided more by the rules of Appetite, than of Judgement.
1827 T. Hood Plea Midsummer Fairies xxxv, in Plea Midsummer Fairies & Other Poems 18 We be the handmaids of the Spring, In sign whereof, May..Hath wrought her samplers on our gauzy wing.
7. Of which or whom, in partitive sense (of prep. IX.).Also with ellipsis of antecedent as object of a verb: = some or something of which (of prep. 29).
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > [adverb] > of which or whom
whereofc1390
c1390 in T. Wright & J. O. Halliwell Reliquiæ Antiquæ (1845) II. 54 To han wherof to spenden on these myraclis.
1459 Paston Lett. I. 473 xiij. spones, wherof oon is gilt, weiyng xvij. unces.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Gen. iii. B Hast thou not eaten of the tre, wherof I commaunded the, yt thou shuldest not eate?
1597 W. Shakespeare Richard II i. ii. 11 Edwards seuen sonnes whereof thy selfe art one. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) v. i. 38 The greene sowre Ringlets..Whereof the Ewe not bites. View more context for this quotation
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ii. 584 Lethe the River of Oblivion.., whereof who drinks, Forthwith his former state and being forgets. View more context for this quotation
1726 J. Swift Gulliver I. ii. vii. 137 Civil Wars, the last whereof was happily put an end to by this Prince's Grandfather.
1828 E. Bulwer-Lytton Pelham III. v. 92 I presume that you have many other titles, whereof some are more grateful to your ears than others.
1864 C. Dickens Our Mutual Friend (1865) I. i. iv. 31 The two bottles: whereof one held Scotch ale and the other rum.
8. Of which, in possessive and related senses (of prep. XIV.).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > [adverb] > of which
whereofa1400
a1400–50 Wars Alex. 4380 Þe faire floryscht filds of floures & of herbys, Quare-of þe breth as of bawme blawis in oure noose.
1554 in J. Strype Eccl. Memorials (1721) III. App. xvii. 43 By reason wherof we affirm Purgatory..to be the Doctrin of Antichrist.
1575 G. Gascoigne Noble Arte Venerie xxviii. 72 You shal seke the hart in heaths and broomie places, wherof they then delight to crop the flowers and toppes.
1660 J. Childrey Britannia Baconica 23 Bodmin..hath one street..on the South side whereof it hath a great high hill.
1753 Trial J. Stewart 219 In the eyes of those tenants whereof he had assumed to be protector.
1821 W. Scott Kenilworth II. vi. 159 Dangerous sickness, the issue whereof is in the will of Heaven.
1882 W. Besant All Sorts of Men III. xxxiii. 4 All that work for your grandfather whereof you now sweetly reap the benefit.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > direction > [adverb] > to or towards some thing or place > to or towards which place or direction
thitherc897
whitherc950
whereto1340
wheretill1423
whereunto1490
whereupon1560
whereof1659
1659 J. Leak tr. I. de Caus New Inventions Water-works 25 Let there be a water wheel to the Axtree, whereof let there be fastned a Wheel of thirty six Teeth or more.
Derivatives
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > [adverb] > in relation or with reference to or concerning > concerning which or wherein
whereinnec1275
whereofa1300
whereinc1400
where-offena1450
whereof1469
whereuponc1515
whereintill1516
whereabout1538
whereanent1579
a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Hist. Holy Grail xxxvii. l. 11 Where-offen they spoken ful pleyn.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1923; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adv.c1175