adv. Now formal or arch. [f. WHERE 15 + UNTO.]
1. interrog. Unto what? † to what end? for what purpose? wherefore? = WHERETO 1, 2.
1423. James I., Kingis Q., lxviii. Than said I thus, ‘quhareunto lyve I langer?’
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, liv. 149. Alle they that ben here, knowe well wheronto the thynge is come.
1526. Tindale, Matt. xi. 16. But whearevnto shall y lyken this generacion? Ibid., Acts v. 24. When … the hye prestes herde these thynges, they doubted off them, where vnto this wolde growe.
1552. Latimer, Serm., St. Andrew’s Day (1562), 119. When Andrew hearde wherunto Christ was come, he forsoke his maister Iohn, and came to Christe.
1865. Pusey, Eirenicon, 174. Which, whereunto it may lead, one had rather not think.
2. rel. Unto which: = WHERETO 3.
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, xxix. 111. The operacyons and wodnesses of helle … wherunto she hath subdued and submytted herself.
1526. Tindale, Acts xiii. 2. Seperat me Barnabas and Saul for the worke where vnto I have called them. Ibid., xxvii. 8. A place called Goode porte. Neye where vnto was citte called Lasea.
1530. in Leadam, Sel. Cases Star Chamber (Selden Soc.), II. 50. Decrees … whervnto the seid Abbott was neuer partye.
1560. Bible (Genev.), Deut. iv. 26. The land, whereunto ye go euer Iorden to possesse it.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., I. 24. The Water of fforth is ane arme of the Sea, and a place quhairwnto the sey flowis and ebbis.
1611. Shaks., Cymb., III. vii. 13. With those Legions Which I haue spoke of whereunto your leuie Must be suppliant.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., I. ii. 6. The omnisciency of God, whereunto there is nothing concealable.
a. 1687. Petty, Pol. Arith., iv. (1690), 76. It is also material to examin, how many of them do get more than they spend, and how many less. In order whereunto it is to be considered, that [etc.].
1760–72. H. Brooke, Fool of Qual. (1809), IV. 128. Your family-vault,… whereunto even my Harry must finally adjourn.
1832. G. R. Porter, Porcelain & Gl., xiv. 302. The too sudden variations of temperature whereunto the glass would be subjected.
1846. Trench, Mirac., xxxiii. (1862), 464. Unlike as was his outward appearance to that whereunto their eyes were accustomed.
1871. T. R. Jones, Anim. Kingd. (ed. 4), 552. The lower valve of the shell being fixed immediately to the rock whereunto the animal is attached.
