Re: Noun Cases

Mark J. Reed scripsit:

> In particular, I believe there used to be a technical
> distinction between English "why" and "wherefore", but cannot find an
> explication of this distinction online.  The AHD and M-W have
> "wherefore" defined as a synonym of "why".  Can anyone on here shed some
> light?  Why was Shakespeare's "whys and wherefores" not a redundant
> phrase?
The distinction, when it is made (not always), is that "why?" asks for the
material cause of something, but "wherefore?" asks for the final cause:
the purpose or justification.

--
Deshil Holles eamus.  Deshil Holles eamus.  Deshil Holles eamus.
Send us, bright one, light one, Horhorn, quickening, and wombfruit. (3x)
Hoopsa, boyaboy, hoopsa!  Hoopsa, boyaboy, hoopsa!  Hoopsa, boyaboy, hoopsa!
  -- Joyce, Ulysses, "Oxen of the Sun"       jcowan@reutershealth.com