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January 20, 2019

Word of the Day: Wherewithal

1 CQ

Word of the Day : January 20, 2019

wherewithal \WAIR-wih-thawl\ noun

Definition

: means or resources for purchasing or doing something; specifically : financial resources : money

Did You Know?

Wherewithal has been with us in one form or another since the 16th century. It comes from our still-familiar word where, and withal, a Middle English combination of with and all, meaning "with." Wherewithal has been used as a conjunction meaning "with or by means of which" and as a pronoun meaning "that with or by which." These days, however, it is almost always used as a noun referring to the means or resources—especially financial resources—one has at one's disposal.

Aired January 20, 2019

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