Whereto

adv. Now formal or arch. [f. WHERE 15 + TO prep. Cf. Du. waartoe.]

  I.  Interrogative.

  1.  To what? (in various senses of TO prep.); in what direction, whither?

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 24488. Quen i sagh son warto þai tight, Al mi licam can þai light, And mi mode a-mend.

c. 1400.  Rule St. Benet (verse), 293. Whar-to so þai tum þair mode. Ibid. (prose), 38. Þan sal man rede hir þe reule, þat sho may wite witerli whar-to sho salle halde hir.

c. 1400.  in 26 Pol. Poems, 149. Wherto ys a man more lyke, Then to a floure that spryngeth in may?

1484.  Cely Papers (Camden), 152. Wherto thys schall growe I can nott saye.

1570.  Levins, Manip., 154/40. Wherto, quorsum.

1590.  Shaks., Mids. N., III. ii. 256. Lysander, whereto tends all this?

1855.  Emerson, Misc., vii. 56. What is matter? Whence is it? and Whereto?

  † 2.  [TO prep. 8.] To what end? for what purpose? for what reason? wherefore? what … for? Obs.

a. 1225.  St. Marher., 16. Hwerto schuld i tellen þe … of ure cunde?

a. 1250.  Owl & Night., 464. Wan min erende is ido, Sholde ich bileue? nai: war to?

1382.  Wyclif, Matt. xxvi. 50. Jhesus seide to hym, Frend, wherto art thou comen?

1390.  Gower, Conf., I. 287. How sche that scharpe swerdes blad Receive scholde and do withal So as sche wot wherto it schal.

c. 1400.  Maundev. (Roxb.), xxxii. 145. Qwhare to þan … gaders þou þe ricches of þis werld?

c. 1420.  Prose Life Alex., 46. I ame … sent vn-to þe fra kyng Alexander to wiete where to þou taries to come till hym to gyffe hym batelle.

c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, XI. 311. Quhar to suld I her off lang process mak?

1484.  Caxton, Fables of Poge, iv. What is that whiche thou berest on thy fyste and wher to is it [sc. a sperehawk] good.

1561.  Norton & Sackv., Gorboduc, IV. ii. We marueyle muche wherto this lingeryng staie Falles out so longe.

a. 1585.  Montgomerie, Cherrie & Slae, 653. Quhairto suld he come heir?

1602.  Shaks., Ham., III. iii. 46. Whereto serues mercy, But to confront the visage of Offence?

1790.  Shirrefs, Poems Sc. Dial., 144. But whare-to did ye’t, oman, lat me hear?

  II.  Relative.

  3.  To which (in various senses of TO prep.).

1340.  Ayenb., 169. Þeruore is þe zeuende stape or þise uirtue þe ilke þet oure mayster Iesu crist deþ þerto huerto þe filozofes ne miȝte come.

c. 1440.  Gesta Rom., xxxiii. 352. The sone of a maide hath not wherto he may lay his hede.

1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 21 b. The fruytes of the heuenly countre, wherto they go.

1592.  Shaks., Rom. & Jul., I. ii. 21. This night I hold an old accustom’d Feast, Whereto I haue inuited many a Guest. Ibid. (1602), Ham., V. i. 234. That Lome (whereto he was conuerted).

1667.  Milton, P. L., VIII. 393. Whereto th’ Almighty answer’d, not displeas’d.

1768.  Tucker, Lt. Nat. (1834), II. 356. The perfection whereto their natures are destined.

1810.  Vince, Astron., xxi. 230. A matter whereto I gave not all the attention requisite.

1887.  Morris, Odyss., XII. 162. The mast-step, whereto shall the cords be tied.

  † b.  In addition to or besides which (TO prep. 15).

1568.  Satir. Poems Reform., xlvi. 27. Quhairto, till deif ȝow w^t tome clatter, Ar nane sic in the floit as scho.

  † 4.  For which (purpose): cf. TO prep. 8. Obs.

1535.  Coverdale, Isa. lv. 11. The worde also that commeth out of my mouth … shal … prospere in the thinge, wherto I sende it.

  Hence Wheretoever, Wheretosoever advbs., to whatever place, whithersoever. rare.

1609.  Bible (Douay), 1 Sam. xviii. 5. David also went forth to al thinges wheretosoever Saul sent him.

1635.  Person, Varieties, I. 5. Because the Heavens, of all the parts of the World are most conspicuous, as that wheretoever we bend our eyes, being the most glorious Creature.