By means of this document or statement; used to indicate that something is being done or declared by the very act of speaking or writing.
From Middle English, compound of 'here' (in this place/document) and 'by' (by means of). Used in legal and formal documents since the 14th century to give immediate force to declarations or actions.
The word 'hereby' has magical-seeming power in legal contexts - it can instantly create marriages ('I hereby pronounce you...'), transfer property, or establish corporations simply by being written or spoken in the proper context with proper authority!
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