whyAudio Help (hwī, wī) Pronunciation Key
adv.
For what purpose, reason, or cause; with what intention, justification, or motive: Why is the door shut? Why do birds sing?
conj.
The reason, cause, or purpose for which: I know why you left.
Usage Problem On account of which; for which: "The reason why [regular verbs] are called regular is that we can predict what all the other three forms are"(Randolph Quirk).
n.
pl.whys
The cause or intention underlying a given action or situation: studying the whys of antisocial behavior.
A difficult problem or question.
interj.
Used to express mild surprise, indignation, or impatience.
[Middle English, from Old English hwȳ; see kwo- in Indo-European roots.]
Usage Note: Many critics have held that why is redundant in the expression the reason why, as in The reason why he accepted the nomination is not clear. While it is true that why could be eliminated from such examples with no loss to the sense, the construction has been used by reputable English writers since the Renaissance. See Usage Note at where.
O.E. hwi, instrumental case (showing for what purpose or by what means) of hwæt (see what), from P.Gmc. *khwi (cf. O.S. hwi, O.N. hvi), from PIE *qwei, locative of *qwo- "who" (cf. Gk. pei "where"). As an interjection of surprise or to call attention to a statement, recorded from 1519.
for which reason (?) Example: `Why did you hit the child?'; `He hit the child.' `Why?'; Why haven't you finished?; `I haven't finished.' `Why not?'; `Let's go to the cinema.' `Why not?' (= Let's!); Tell me why you came here.
Arabic:
لماذا؟
Chinese (Simplified):
为什么
Chinese (Traditional):
為什麼
Czech:
proč
Danish:
hvorfor
Dutch:
waarom
Estonian:
miks
Finnish:
miksi
French:
pourquoi
German:
warum
Greek:
γιατί
Hungarian:
miért?
Icelandic:
af hverju, hvers vegna
Indonesian:
mengapa
Italian:
perché
Japanese:
なぜ
Korean:
왜, 어째서
Latvian:
kāpēc; kādēļ
Lithuanian:
kodėl
Norwegian:
hvorfor
Polish:
dlaczego
Portuguese (Brazil):
por que
Portuguese (Portugal):
porquê
Romanian:
de ce
Russian:
почему; зачем
Slovak:
prečo
Slovenian:
zakaj
Spanish:
por qué
Swedish:
varför
Turkish:
neden, niçin, niye
why[wai]relative pronoun
for which Example: Give me one good reason why I should help you!
How\, adv. [OE. how, hou, hu, hwu, AS. h?, from the same root as hw[=a], hw[ae]t, who, what, pron. interrog.; akin to OS. hw[=o]w, D. hoe, cf. G. wie how, Goth. hw[=e] wherewith, hwaiwa how. [root]182. See Who, and cf. Why.]1. In what manner or way; by what means or process. How can a man be born when he is old? --John iii. 4. 2. To what degree or extent, number or amount; in what proportion; by what measure or quality. O, how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. --Ps. cxix. 97. By how much they would diminish the present extent of the sea, so much they would impair the fertility, and fountains, and rivers of the earth. --Bentley. 3. For what reason; from what cause. How now, my love! why is your cheek so pale? --Shak. 4. In what state, condition, or plight. How, and with what reproach, shall I return? --Dryden. 5. By what name, designation, or title. How art thou called? --Shak. 6. At what price; how dear. [Obs.] How a score of ewes now? --Shak. Note: How is used in each sense, interrogatively, interjectionally, and relatively; it is also often employed to emphasize an interrogation or exclamation. "How are the mighty fallen!" --2 Sam. i. 27. Sometimes, also, it is used as a noun; -- as, the how, the when, the wherefore. --Shelley. Let me beg you -- don't say "How?" for "What?" --Holmes.
Who\, pron. [Possess. whose; object. Whom.] [OE. who, wha, AS. hw[=a], interrogative pron., neut. hw[ae]t; akin to OFries. hwa, neut. hwet, OS. hw[=e], neut. hwat, D. wie, neut. wat, G. wer, neut. was, OHG. wer, hwer, neut. waz, hwaz, Icel. hvat, neut., Dan. hvo, neut. hvad, Sw. ho, hvem, neut. hvad, Goth. hwas, fem. hw[=o], neut. hwa, Lith. kas, Ir. & Gael. co, W. pwy, L. quod, neuter of qui, Gr. po`teros whether, Skr. kas. [root]182. Cf. How, Quantity, Quorum, Quote, Ubiquity, What, When, Where, Whether, Which, Whither, Whom, Why.]1. Originally, an interrogative pronoun, later, a relative pronoun also; -- used always substantively, and either as singular or plural. See the Note under What, pron., 1. As interrogative pronouns, who and whom ask the question: What or which person or persons? Who and whom, as relative pronouns (in the sense of that), are properly used of persons (corresponding to which, as applied to things), but are sometimes, less properly and now rarely, used of animals, plants, etc. Who and whom, as compound relatives, are also used especially of persons, meaning the person that; the persons that; the one that; whosoever. "Let who will be President." --Macaulay. [He] should not tell whose children they were. --Chaucer. There thou tell'st of kings, and who aspire; Who fall, who rise, who triumph, who do moan. --Daniel. Adders who with cloven tongues Do hiss into madness. --Shak. Whom I could pity thus forlorn. --Milton. How hard is our fate, who serve in the state. --Addison. Who cheapens life, abates the fear of death. --Young. The brace of large greyhounds, who were the companions of his sports. --Sir W. Scott. 2. One; any; one. [Obs., except in the archaic phrase, as who should say.] As who should say, it were a very dangerous matter if a man in any point should be found wiser than his forefathers were. --Robynson (More's Utopia).
Why\, adv. [OE. whi, why, AS. hw[=i], hw?, instrumental case of hw[=a], hw[ae]t; akin to Icel. hv[=i] 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? --Ezek. xxxiii. 11. 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. --Milton. Turn the discourse; I have a reason why I would not have you speak so tenderly. --Dryden. 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. Note: 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. --Cowley. Sometimes, also, it is used as a noun. The how and the why and the where. --Goldsmith. For why, because; why. See Forwhy. [Obs. or Colloq.]
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Audio Help [hwahy, wahy] Pronunciation Key adverb, conjunction, noun, plural whys, interjection 
