or wherewithal, subs. (colloquial).—The necessary, requisites: spec. money (generic): see RHINO.
[1390. MANDEVILLE, Travels [HALLIWELL], 3. A man that hath WHEROF (opes).]
1659. MILTON, Touching Hirelings. We ourselves have not WHEREWITHAL; who shall bear the charges of our Journey?
1809. MALKIN, Gil Blas [ROUTLEDGE], 260. How the devil doos she mean that I should get the WHEREWITHAL?… Does she take me for … treasurer to a charity?
1855. SPENCER, Principles of Sociology, 15. Heavily taxed in providing the WHEREWITHAL to meet excessive loss.
1864. TENNYSON, Enoch Arden. The WHEREWITHAL to give his babes a better bringing-up.
1887. Daily Telegraph, 8 Dec. M. ——, however, had not the WHEREWITHAL to furnish a marriage portion of seven camels.
