Whereat Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
📍
whereat
[ˈwɛræt ]
Definition
formal usage
Whereat is a formal conjunction that refers to a place or situation in which something occurs. It is often used in legal, official, or literary contexts to introduce a clause that provides further information about a location or circumstance. In essence, whereat can indicate the point in time or space at which an event takes place. It is not commonly used in modern conversational English but may still be encountered in specific formal writings.
Examples of usage
- The meeting will commence, whereat all members are expected to attend.
- Whereat the decision was made, many were surprised by the outcome.
- He stood in silence, whereat he contemplated his next move.
Translations
To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.
Origin of 'whereat'
The word 'whereat' is a compound word made up of 'where' and 'at', originating from Middle English. The term has been in use since at least the late 14th century, reflecting the combination of localizing words that indicate both place ('where') and position ('at'). Historically, 'whereat' has been used in various forms of literature, particularly in the contexts of legal documents, poetry, and formal dialogues. Over time, as language has evolved and modernized, the usage of 'whereat' has diminished in everyday conversation, leading it to be classified more as archaic or formal. It remains a precise expression that may still find relevance in specific contexts, where detail about location or circumstance needs to be established.