wherefore vs why

wherefore and why both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
wherefore	Yes	No	No	No
why	Yes	No	No	No

As nouns, wherefore and why are synonyms defined as:

wherefore and why: the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase `the whys and wherefores'

wherefore (noun)	why (noun)
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase `the whys and wherefores'	the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase `the whys and wherefores'