whereas
1. where.as \hwer-'az, hwar-, wer-, war-, (.)(h)w*r-\ cj [ME where as, fr. where + as] 1: in view of the fact that : SINCE - used esp. to introduce a p reamble 2: while on the contrary 2. whereas n 1: an introductory statement of a formal document : PREAMBLE 2: a conditional or qualifying statement