Why
adverb
1.
for what? for what reason, cause, or purpose?:
Why did you behave so badly?
conjunction
2.
for what cause or reason:
I don’t know why he is leaving.
3.
for which; on account of which (usually after reason to introduce a relative clause):
the reason why he refused to go.
4.
the reason for which:
That is why he returned.
noun, plural whys.
5.
a question concerning the cause or reason for which something is done, achieved, etc.:
a child’s unending hows and whys.
6.
the cause or reason:
the whys and wherefores of a troublesome situation.
interjection
7.
(used as an expression of surprise, hesitation, etc., or sometimes a mere expletive):
Why, it’s all gone!
1.
contraction of why is:
Why’s dinner so late?
adverb
1.
for what reason, purpose, or cause?: why are you here?
(used in indirect questions): tell me why you’re here
pronoun
2.
for or because of which: there is no reason why he shouldn’t come
noun (pl) whys
3.
(usually pl) the reason, purpose, or cause of something (esp in the phrase the whys and wherefores)
interjection
4.
an introductory expression of surprise, disagreement, indignation, etc: why, don’t be silly!
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- Whys and wherefores
All the underlying causes and reasons, as in She went into the whys and wherefores of the adoption agency’s rules and procedures. This idiom today is a redundancy since why and wherefore mean the same thing. Formerly, however, why indicated the reason for something and wherefore how it came to be. [ c. 1600 ]
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