# therefore

Pronunciation: US say "THAIR-for" /ˈðɛɹ.fɔɹ/; UK say "THAIR-faw" /ˈðɛə.fɔː/

## Adverb

1. As a result of what was just stated; for that reason or cause.
   - Simple: For that reason, because of something said before.
   - _The bridge failed its safety inspection and will therefore stay closed until repairs are finished._
   - _He had broken the rules and therefore faced disqualification from the tournament._

## Adverb

2. For that or for it, in reference to something previously named. *(archaic)*
   - Simple: For that, or for it, referring to something already mentioned.

## Origin

From Middle English therfore (also therfor, tharfore), a univerbation of there (a pronominal adverb) plus for, literally "for that reason." The spelling shifted after it was reanalyzed as there + fore ("forward from that"). It is related to Dutch daarvoor, German dafür, Danish and Norwegian derfor, and Swedish därför.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/therefore (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).