Adjacent Words

Whereas definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

WHEREAS, adv. s as z. [where and as.]
1. When in fact or truth, implying opposition to something that precedes.
Are not those found to be the greatest zealots, who are most notoriously ignorant? Whereas true zeal should always begin with true knowledge.
2. The thing being so that; considering that things are so; implying an admission of facts, sometimes followed by a different statement, and sometimes by inferences or something consequent, as in the law style, where a preamble introduces a law.
Whereas wars are generally causes of poverty--
3. Whereat; at which place.
4. But on the contrary. [See No. 1.]

Merriam Webster's

I. conjunction Etymology: Middle English where as, from where + as Date: 14th century 1. a. while on the contrary b. although 2. in view of the fact that ; since — used especially to introduce a preamble II. noun Date: 1795 1. an introductory statement of a formal document ; preamble 2. a conditional or qualifying statement

Oxford Reference Dictionary

conj. 1 in contrast or comparison with the fact that. 2 (esp. in legal preambles) taking into consideration the fact that.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Whereas Where*as", adv. At which place; where. [Obs.] --Chaucer. At last they came whereas that lady bode. --Spenser.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Whereas Where*as", conj. 1. Considering that; it being the case that; since; -- used to introduce a preamble which is the basis of declarations, affirmations, commands, requests, or like, that follow. 2. When in fact; while on the contrary; the case being in truth that; although; -- implying opposition to something that precedes; or implying recognition of facts, sometimes followed by a different statement, and sometimes by inferences or something consequent. Are not those found to be the greatest zealots who are most notoriously ignorant? whereas true zeal should always begin with true knowledge. --Sprat.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English. You use whereas to introduce a comment which contrasts with what is said in the main clause. Pensions are linked to inflation, whereas they should be linked to the cost of living... = while CONJ

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

conj. 1. Since, considering that, it being the case that. 2. When in fact, while on the contrary.

1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue

To follow a whereas; to become a bankrupt, to figure among princes and potentates: the notice given in the Gazette that a commission of bankruptcy is issued out against any trader, always beginning with the word whereas. He will soon march in the rear of a whereas.

Moby Thesaurus

albeit, although, as, as far as, as long as, as things go, at which time, because, being as how, boundary condition, catch, cause, clause, condition, considering, donnee, during which time, escalator clause, escape clause, escape hatch, fine print, for, forasmuch as, given, grounds, howbeit, in that, inasmuch as, insofar as, insomuch as, joker, kicker, limiting condition, now, obligation, parameter, parce que, prerequisite, provision, provisions, proviso, requisite, saving clause, seeing, seeing as how, seeing that, since, sine qua non, small print, specification, stipulation, string, terms, the while, ultimatum, when, while, whilst