Why
Why , adverb
[Old English whi, why, Anglo-Saxon hwī, hw{not transcribed}, instrumental case of hwā, hwat; akin to Icelandic hvī why, Danish & Swedish hvi; compare Gothic hw{not transcribed}. {not transcribed}. 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.
If her chill heart I can not move,
Why, I'll enjoy the very love.
The how and the why and the where.
Collocations (1)
For why , because; why. See Forwhy. [Obsolete or Colloquial]
Why , noun
A young heifer. [Provincial English] — Grose