whereas

Etymology

From where + as (“that”); first attested in the meaning of "where" First attested in the 14ᵗʰ century.. Compare thereas.

adv

1. (obsolete) Where (that).
   And home she came, whereas her mother blynd / Sate in eternall night […] 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, I.iii

conj

1. In contrast; whilst on the contrary; although.
   He came first in the race, whereas his brother came last.
2. (chiefly law) It being the fact that; inasmuch as. (Often used to begin recitals; sometimes emboldened or emphasized as a signifier.)
   And Whereas it hath pleased the Great Governor of the World to incline the hearts of the legislatures we respectively represent in Congress, to approve of, and to authorize us to ratify the said Articles of Confederation and perpetual Union. 1778, United States Articles of Confederation

noun

1. A clause, as in legal documents, stating whereas.
   […]the promise is stated after a whereas, though the promise is the very gist of the action, yet, such a count so framed, will be held good on demurrer. 1883, The Insurance Law Journal, Potter and Company
   It had a page or so of whereases. 1908, United States Congress, Hearings beginning March 9, 1908 – April 30, 1908
   I feel it is most unfortunate that some of the preambles, prefaces, whereases or whatever you want to call it, are put before motions or before resolutions[…] 1961, Aluminum Workers' International Union, Biennial Convention
   If it is the desire of any Lodge on the floor that the whereases that were listed in their original Resolution be quoted by the Chairman or by the Secretary[…] 1973, Canadian Fellowship of Catholic Scholars, Proceedings