wherewithal

<font size="-1" face="arial, helvetica"> <p> <strong> <font color="#000066">Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 26, 2022 is:</font> </strong> </p> <p> <strong>wherewithal</strong> &#149; \WAIR-wih-thawl\&nbsp; &#149; <em>noun</em><br /> <p><em>Wherewithal</em> refers to the means, resources, or money that is needed to get or do something.</p> <p>// News reports suggest that the company does not have the <em>wherewithal</em> from investors to prevent a buyout.</p> <p><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wherewithal">See the entry ></a></p> </p> <p> <strong>Examples:</strong><br /> <p>"The repairs, however, could cost millions of dollars…. The stalemate has some observers wondering if the private sector has the <em>wherewithal</em> to continue operating the Paramount and Convention Hall." — Michael L. Diamond, <em>The Asbury Park (New Jersey) Press</em>, 6 Feb. 2022</p> </p> <p> <strong>Did you know?</strong><br /> <p><em>Wherewithal</em> comes from <em><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/where">where</a></em> and <em><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/withal#h2">withal</a></em> (meaning "with"), and it has been used as a conjunction meaning "with or by means of which" and as a pronoun meaning "that with or by which." These days, however, it is almost always used as a noun referring to the means or resources a person has at one's disposal—especially financial resources.</p> <br /><br /> </p> </font>