What does hereto mean?
Hereto is a formal word that means “up to or as far as this point” and, in legal usage, “to this document” or “attached to this.” It is most often met in fixed phrases such as “hereto attached” and in references to people or documents already connected with the text being read. The word has a formal, sometimes archaic sound; ordinary modern prose usually prefers “up to this point,” “until now,” or “before this.” Hereto belongs especially to legal and administrative English in both British and American usage, although it is much more specialized than those everyday alternatives. Its value is precision rather than everyday convenience: it marks a reference to the document’s present scope, and the established phrase “hereto attached” gives that reference a compact, recognizably legal form. The word is therefore especially useful when reading contracts, amendments, notices, and other texts written in formal register.
Used in formal or legal language to mean “up to or as far as this point,” or “to or associated with this document.”
"The parties agree to the amendment hereto attached."
The temporal sense is now less common in ordinary prose. In expressions such as “hereto attached,” it refers to the document or instrument being discussed.
To or up to this point; until now.
"Hereto, the council met only once a year."
Chiefly archaic, historical, or formal. Modern speakers usually say “until now” or “hitherto.”
In legal prose, “hereto attached” means exactly what it says: attached to this document.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hereto come from?
Hereto is a compound of here and to, both of which were inherited from Old English. Here developed from Old English hēr, while to descends from Old English tō; Middle English combinations of these elements eventually produced the modern form. The same here element appears in hereafter, hereby, and herein, while thereto is a close structural and semantic cognate.
How hereto is actually used
Hereto is formal to archaic in modern English. It is more natural in established legal formulas than as a freely chosen temporal equivalent, for which modern prose usually prefers “up to this point,” “until now,” or “before this.”
Easily confused with hereto
Hereto means “up to this point” or “to this document,” whereas hertofore means “before the present time” or “in earlier proceedings.”