why
[hwahy, wahy]
- for what? for what reason, cause, or purpose?: Why did you behave so badly?
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- for what cause or reason: I don't know why he is leaving.
- for which; on account of which (usually after reason to introduce a relative clause): the reason why he refused to go.
- the reason for which: That is why he returned.
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- a question concerning the cause or reason for which something is done, achieved, etc.: a child's unending hows and whys.
- the cause or reason: the whys and wherefores of a troublesome situation.
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- (used as an expression of surprise, hesitation, etc., or sometimes a mere expletive): Why, it's all gone!
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Origin of why
before 900; Middle English; Old English hwī, hwȳ, instrumental case of hwæt what; cognate with Old Norse hvī
Usage note
See reason.
why's
[hwahyz, wahyz]
- contraction of why is: Why's dinner so late?
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Usage note
See contraction.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
why
- for what reason, purpose, or cause?why are you here?
- (used in indirect questions)tell me why you're here
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- for or because of whichthere is no reason why he shouldn't come
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- (usually plural) the reason, purpose, or cause of something (esp in the phrase the whys and wherefores)
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- an introductory expression of surprise, disagreement, indignation, etcwhy, don't be silly!
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Word Origin
Old English hwī; related to Old Norse hvī, Gothic hveileiks what kind of, Latin quī
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for why
Old English hwi, instrumental case (showing for what purpose or by what means) of hwæt (see what), from Proto-Germanic *khwi (cf. Old Saxon hwi, Old Norse hvi), from PIE *qwei, locative of *qwo- "who" (cf. Greek pei "where"). As an interjection of surprise or to call attention to a statement, recorded from 1510s.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper