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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Why \Why\, adverb [OE. whi, why, AS. hw[imac], hw?, instrumental case of hw[=a], hw[ae]t; akin to Icel. hv[imac] 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}, pronoun , 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.]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Why \Why\, noun A young heifer. [Prov. Eng.] --Grose. Whydah bird
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
noun
1: the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase 'the whys and wherefores' [syn: {why}, {wherefore}]
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Definitions retrieved from the Open Source DICT English and WordNet 3.0 dictionaries. Click here for database copyright information.
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