wherebyadv.
/wɛːˈbʌɪ/, U.S. /(h)wɛrˈbaɪ/ I. interrogative.† 3. For what reason? why? (by prep. 36). Obsolete.
1. By, beside, or near what? in what direction?
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > direction > [adverb] > to or towards some thing or place > to or towards what place or direction
whither971
whereOE
whereforthc1290
wheretoa1300
wherebya1450
where…to?1768
wheretill1827
which-a-way1909
a1450 J. Myrc Instr. to Par. Priests 4 In-to þe dyche þey fallen boo, For þey ne sen whare by to go.
2. By what means? how? (by prep. 29, 30.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > instrumentality > [adverb] > by what means?
wherewithc1175
howa1400
whereby1526
wherewithal1535
1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. x. 436 Wherby wote men whiche is whyte if alle þinge blake were?
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 7801 Þat þai bath er slain, quar-bi Wat þou it es sua?
1526 Bible (Tyndale) Luke i. f. lxxij Wherby shall I knowe this?
1755 S. Johnson Dict. Eng. Lang. (at cited word) Whereby wilt thou accomplish thy design?
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
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 2256 Wharbi seistow so so þe god help?
1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur viii. xvi. 297 Be ye a knyght of Cornewaile? where by aske ye hit? said sir Tristram.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) iii. i. 9 Clo. Thereby hangs a tayle. Boy. Whereby hangs a tayle sir? View more context for this quotation
II. relative.
4. By means of or by the agency of which; from which (as a source of information); according to which, in the matter of which, etc.
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
the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > conformity to or with a pattern, etc. > [adverb] > conformably or accordingly
thereafterc1175
likec1425
likec1425
accordantlyc1443
thereby1512
pursuantly1530
agreeable1549
pursuant1659
accordingly1688
whereby1918
c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 81 We wolden sen sum fortocne of þe, Warbi we mihten cnowen ȝif it soð were þat þu seist.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 573 Mete quorbi ðei migten liuen.
1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. xiv. 40 Lyflode..Wher-of or wherfore or where-by to lybbe.
1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis II. 294 A staf, wherby, he seide, he wolde That Adrian him scholde holde.
c1450 Mirk's Festial 195 Summe spyritual visyon wherby þat he myȝt haue ben confortyd yn sowle.
1530 Myroure Oure Ladye (Fawkes) (1873) ii. 234 A starre of Iacob wherby ys vnderstonde oure lorde iesu cryste.
1560 Bible (Geneva) Jer. xxxiii. 8 I will cleanse them from all their iniquitie, whereby they haue sinned against me.
a1614 J. Melville Autobiogr. & Diary (1842) 192 The absolut power, wharbe..the haill privileges of the thrie Esteates of the Realme is weakned.
1662 E. Stillingfleet Origines Sacræ ii. iii. §3 The rationall evidence of that divine authority whereby Moses acted.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost v. 411 Every lower facultie Of sense, whereby they hear, see, smell, touch, taste. View more context for this quotation
1697 in Colonial Rec. Pennsylvania (1852) I. 516 His Return of rep[re]sentatives for Council was produced, qrby it appeared [etc.].
1709 G. Berkeley Ess. New Theory of Vision §61. 66 Stated Lengths, whereby we measure Objects.
1794 R. J. Sulivan View of Nature II. 92 An universal plastic power, whereby every body in nature receives its..specific form.
1883 R. Whitelaw tr. Sophocles Ajax 1025 This..sword-point—this whereby Ebbed out thy life.
1918 Times Lit. Suppl. 14 Mar. 122/2 There is no convention in war whereby the loser can convert disaster into stalemate.
5.
a. In consequence of, as a result of, or owing to which; from which (as a cause or reason); wherefore; sometimes practically equivalent to ‘so that’, ‘in order that’. Obsolete exc. dialect.
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
c1380 J. Wyclif Wks. (1880) 310 Þise men lousen crist þat maken hise membris heere special patrouns, & leuen to haue crist oonliche heere patroun, werbi þei louen lasse crist.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. c. 49 b/1 The table rounde, wherby sprange the fame of so many noble knightes through out all the worlde.
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection Pref. sig. Aii It was put into my mynde to draw it in the englysshe tonge, wherby it myght be the more accept to many.
1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 v. i. 67 We were inforst for safety sake to..raise this present head, Whereby we stand opposed by such meanes, As you your selfe haue forgde against your selfe.
1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. v. 232 Wee buried the slayne people in deep graues, whereby Iackals should not open vp their graues.
1678 N. Wanley Wonders Little World v. ii. §81. 472/2 He was suddenly seised with a Cancer in the Reins of his back, whereby he rotted above ground.
1844 T. Hood Univ. Feud 105 Whereby it so may happen as that neither of them Scholars May be the proper Chairman for the Glorious Apollers!
1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Colonial Reformer xv I ought to be..going peacefully to bed, whereby I should wake up with a clear head.
b. Upon which, whereupon. dialect ? Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > relative time > the future or time to come > [adverb] > whereafter or whereupon
whereaftera1425
whereupon?1461
whereafterward1483
wherewithc1515
wherewithala1542
whenas1553
whereon1588
whereby1600
hereon1602
when1803
1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 ii. i. 99 Goodwife Keech..telling vs she had a good dish of prawnes, whereby thou didst desire to eate some, whereby I told thee they were ill for a greene wound. View more context for this quotation
1748 T. Smollett Roderick Random I. xxiv. 223 Whereby he told the captain, that..he would heave him over-board.
1748 T. Smollett Roderick Random I. xxiv. 223 We heard firing, whereby we made for the place.
6. Beside or near which; along, through, or over which. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > distance > nearness > [adverb] > near which
whereby1297
wherenigha1657
the world > space > direction > specific directions > [adverb] > in longitudinal direction > along the length of something
whereby1297
along?a1425
wherealong1768
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 21 Wateres..Ȝware bi þe ssipes mowe come fram þe se.
a1425 Edward, Duke of York Master of Game (Digby) xix A kenell shulde haue a gutter or two, wherby alle þe pisse of þe houndes..may renne oute.
?1573 L. Lloyd Pilgrimage of Princes f. 154v He..hideth hym self vnder some..rocke, or any other meanes, whereby he semeth to bee.
1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 293 He occupies and standes in a way quhairby the men of weir fled.
1818 Ld. Byron Childe Harold: Canto IV xxxiii. 19 The brawling brook, where-by,..glide the sauntering hours With a calm languor.
1847 Ld. Tennyson Princess iv. 83 Fear..wing'd Her transit to the throne, whereby she fell Delivering seal'd dispatches.
1885 R. Bridges Eros & Psyche xii. ix. 147 At Aphrodite's golden gate, whereby They came as night was close on twilight dim.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1923; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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adv.c1200