why

[why]

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

...

For what cause, reason, or purpose; on what account; wherefore; -- used interrogatively. See the Note under What, pron., 1.

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

Adverb
question word; what is the reason (`how come'' is a nonstandard variant); "why are you here?"; "how come he got an ice cream cone but I didn''t?"


adv.
For what cause, reason, or purpose; on what account; wherefore; -- used interrogatively. See the Note under What, pron., 1.

adv.
For which; on account of which; -- used relatively.

adv.
The reason or cause for which; that on account of which; on what account; as, I know not why he left town so suddenly; -- used as a compound relative.

n.
A young heifer.


Why

Why , adv. [OE. whi, why, AS. hw'c6, hw, instrumental case of hw'be, hw'91t; akin to Icel. hv'c6 why, Dan. & Sw. hvi; cf. Goth. hw. . See Who.] 1. For what cause, reason, or purpose; on what account; wherefore; -- used interrogatively. See the Note under What, pron., 1.
Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
2. For which; on account of which; -- used relatively.
No ground of enmity between us known Why he should mean me ill or seek to harm.
Turn the discourse; I have a reason why I would not have you speak so tenderly.
3. The reason or cause for which; that on account of which; on what account; as, I know not why he left town so suddenly; -- used as a compound relative. &hand; Why is sometimes used as an interjection or an expletive in expression of surprise or content at a turn of affairs; used also in calling. "Why, Jessica!" Shak.
If her chill heart I can not move, Why, I'll enjoy the very love.
Sometimes, also, it is used as a noun.
The how and the why and the where.
For why, because; why. See Forwhy. [Obs. or Colloq.]

Why

Why, n. A young heifer. [Prov. Eng.] Grose.

For what cause, reason, or purpose; on what account; wherefore; -- used interrogatively. See the Note under What, pron., 1.

A young heifer.

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Usage Examples

Activist government overreach and ongoing economic stagnation have shown us why Washington should not try to displace what is best left to civil society.

A lot of why I do something is just the novelty of the experience.

All that I say is, examine, inquire. Look into the nature of things. Search out the grounds of your opinions, the for and against. Know why you believe, understand what you believe, and possess a reason for the faith that is in you.

A ball player has to be kept hungry to become a big leaguer. That's why no boy from a rich family has ever made the big leagues.

A chair is a very difficult object. A skyscraper is almost easier. That is why Chippendale is famous.

A lot of people think Christianity is about always being perfect. It's actually the opposite of that. It's realizing that we're all humans, and that's why God sent his Son to this earth - to save people.

A conversation is a dialogue, not a monologue. That's why there are so few good conversations: due to scarcity, two intelligent talkers seldom meet.

'For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge' took a year to record that's why the playing on it might sound somewhat labored. 'Balance,' on the other hand, was written and recorded in only four months, so the whole process was quicker and more immediate.

Misspelled Form

why, qwhy, 2why, 3why, ewhy, awhy, swhy, qhy, 2hy, 3hy, ehy, ahy, shy, wqhy, w2hy, w3hy, wehy, wahy, wshy, wghy, wyhy, wuhy, wjhy, wnhy, wgy, wyy, wuy, wjy, wny, whgy, whyy, whuy, whjy, whny, whty, wh6y, wh7y, whuy, whhy, wht, wh6, wh7, whu, whh, whyt, why6, why7, whyu, whyh.

Other Usage Examples

A lot of what I've been learning in the last two years is due to therapy - about my sexuality, why things go wrong, why relationships haven't worked. It isn't anything to do with anybody else it's to do with me.

All men should strive to learn before they die, what they are running from, and to, and why.

A good face they say, is a letter of recommendation. O Nature, Nature, why art thou so dishonest, as ever to send men with these false recommendations into the World!

A second reason why science cannot replace judgement is the behavior of financial markets.

A man can be drawn across the room with the simplicity of a smile. That's why your pearly whites should always be straight and shiny. I think most of my clients are drawn to a fun, flirty nature in a woman. The problem is, most women do not often feel fun and flirty.

All I can ask from society is that it please stop telling me why I should like sports.

A petty reason perhaps why novelists more and more try to keep a distance from journalists is that novelists are trying to write the truth and journalists are trying to write fiction.

'Stress' was the catch-all every pamper-pedlar I spoke to used to explain why healthy women feel the need to be regularly patted, petted and preened into a state of babyish beatification.

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