wherewithaladv.n.
/ˈwɛːwᵻðɔːl/, U.S. /ˈ(h)wɛrwəˌðɔl/, /ˈ(h)wɛrwəˌθɔl/, /ˈ(h)wɛrwəˌðɑl/, /ˈ(h)wɛrwəˌθɑl/ (as adverb also)Brit. /ˌwɛːwᵻˈðɔːl/ I. interrogative.
1. = wherewith adv. 1. archaic.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > instrumentality > [adverb] > by what means?
wherewithc1175
howa1400
whereby1526
wherewithal1535
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Psalms cxviii[i]. 9 Where withall shall a yonge man clense his waye?
1540 J. Palsgrave tr. G. Gnapheus Comedye of Acolastus ii. iii. sig. Mijv Where withal I beseche the..shall men bye or make prouysion for our cates?
1611 Bible (King James) Matt. vi. 31 Wherewithall shall wee be clothed? View more context for this quotation
1798 C. Smith Young Philosopher III. 96 He never was so hard run for money. Knew not wherewithal to pay his duties.
II. relative.† 3. = wherewith adv. 3. Obsolete.
2.
a. = wherewith adv. 2. archaic.
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
1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball iii. xxvii. 353 The iuyce of Aloë..openeth the belly, in purging..humours, especially suche wherewithal the stomacke is burdened.
1597 W. Shakespeare Richard II v. i. 55 Northumberland, thou ladder wherewithall The mounting Bullingbrooke ascends my throne. View more context for this quotation
1615 G. Wither Shepherds Hunting iv. E 5 The rest Wherewithall thy minde is blest.
a1673 T. Horton Expos. Psalm lxiii. 7 (1675) 590 He is not like the Egyptian Task-masters, which require brick, and give no straw wherewithal to make it.
1769 W. Robertson Hist. Charles V III. viii. 88 The..marks of his good-will and gratitude wherewithal they had been honoured.
1847 C. Dickens Dombey & Son (1848) xxxi. 310 Mrs. Miff has heard..that the lady hasn't got a sixpence wherewithal to bless herself.
1870 W. Morris Earthly Paradise: Pt. III 344 The love I had therefor was not so much above That wherewithal I loved the silver ring.
b. With ellipsis of antecedent, or as nominal relative: = wherewith adv. 2b. (a) followed by infinitive with to; (b) with ellipsis of inf. (See also 2c) archaic.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > instrumentality > [noun] > (a) means
keyOE
toolc1000
wherewithc1230
ministerc1380
meanc1390
instrumenta1425
organ?a1425
mesne1447
moyen1449
handlec1450
hackneya1500
receipta1500
operative1526
ingine1531
appliance1555
agent1579
matter1580
mids1581
wedge1581
wherewithal1583
shoeing-horn1587
engine1589
instrumental1598
Roaring Meg1598
procurement1601
organy1605
vehicle1615
vehiculuma1617
executioner1646
facility1652
operatory1660
instrumentality1663
expedient1665
agency1684
bladea1713
mechanic1924
mechanism1924
(a)
(b)1605 London Prodigall i. ii The charge is small charge, syr; I thanke God my father left me wherewithal.1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII i. iii. 59 Lou. That Churchman Beares a bounteous minde indeed,.. His dewes fall euery where... L. San. He may my Lord, Ha's wherewithall . View more context for this quotation1669 J. Dryden Wild Gallant i. i. 5 My husband and I cannot live by Love, as they say; we must have wherewithal, as they say.1730 A. Ramsay Fables vi. 21 Them that wanted wherewitha', He dang them back.1866 C. Kingsley Hereward the Wake I. xix. 359 ‘Here is wherewithal’, said Martin.1583 P. Stubbes Second Pt. Anat. Abuses sig. N1v If he haue not wherewithall to maintaine his estate.
1659 J. Milton Considerations touching Hirelings 32 No people to pay him tithes, but his own children and servants, who had not wherewithall to pay him, but of his own.
1693 tr. J. Le Clerc Mem. Count Teckely iii. 66 Teckely being in the Neighbourhood, without having wherewithal to attempt any thing by force.
1742 H. Fielding Joseph Andrews II. iv. i. 174 When your Ladyship's Livery was stript off, he had not wherewithal to buy a Coat. View more context for this quotation
1855 C. Kingsley Westward Ho! xxxi They gave him what they had, and hulled him with every shot... He had not wherewithal to return the compliment.
c. Preceded by the definite (rarely the indefinite) article, which qualifies the omitted or implied antecedent: (a) followed by infinitive with to = means by which, resource with which (to do something); (b) with ellipsis of infinitive (chiefly colloquial), thus becoming a n. = means, esp. pecuniary means; resource or supply (esp. money) needed for the purpose in view.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > money > funds or pecuniary resources > [noun]
coffer1377
pursec1384
possibilityc1385
moneyc1390
financec1475
abilityc1503
purse stringc1530
moyen1547
means1560
financy1600
pocket1633
fonds1669
wherewith1674
apoinctee1682
funds1700
ways and means1738
money stock1743
pecuniary1748
pecuniar1793
wherewithal1809
ante1843
pocketbook1897
the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > instrumentality > [noun] > (a) means > resources
facultya1382
myance?a1513
moyen1547
facility1555
means1560
resource1611
foisona1616
wherewith1674
asset1677
stock-in-tradea1806
wherewithal1809
possibles1823
bag of tricks1841
potential1941
(a)
(b)1809 B. H. Malkin tr. A. R. Le Sage Adventures Gil Blas III. vii. xii. 166 How the devil does she mean that I should get the wherewithal?1861 G. M. Musgrave By-roads in Picardy 14 The design comprised a harbour for vessels carrying forty guns; but the where~withal failed.1890 W. Besant Demoniac iii Our English girls, when they have got the wherewithal, do in the second generation easily assume the aristocratic manner and appearance.1809 B. H. Malkin tr. A. R. Le Sage Adventures Gil Blas I. i. viii. 70 There is a wherewithal to satisfy your craving.
1833 H. Martineau Manch. Strike (new ed.) xii. 127 A..hope..that this day's post would have brought the wherewithal to build up new expectations.
1917 Eng. Hist. Rev. Oct. 490 To supply him with the wherewithal to pay for the defence of the border.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > causation > [adverb] > with which as a cause or occasion
wherewithc1440
wherewithal1607
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 695 He forgot Diana, wherewithall she was very angry.
1640 tr. G. S. du Verdier Love & Armes Greeke Princes ii. 23 The accents of the voice..made him conclude that they proceeded from a person very much afflicted: wherewithall he was so moved to pity, [etc.].
4. † b. = wherewith adv. 4b. Obsolete.
a. = wherewith adv. 4. Obsolete or rare (archaic).
ΚΠ
1618 G. Wither Wither's Motto 193 A knowledge where~withall He is prepar'd for whatsoe're may fall.
1846 N. Hawthorne Mosses ii. 124 With precisely the same complacency of conscience, wherewithal he contemplates the volume of discourses above-mentioned.
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
a1542 T. Wyatt Coll. Poems (1969) iv. 9 Wherewithall, vnto the hertes forrest he fleith.
1640 tr. G. S. du Verdier Love & Armes Greeke Princes ii. 39 Wherewithall considering the..obligation wherein he was bound to her affection, he resolved to let her see how sensible he was of a benefit.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1923; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adv.n.1535