Why

  

Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.

Why

Definition: Why

Why

Adverb

1. Question word; what is the reason; "why are you here?"; (`how come' is a nonstandard variant as in "how come he got an ice cream cone but I didn't?").

Noun

1. The cause or intention underlying an action or situation esp in the phrase "the whys and wherefores".

Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
 

Date "why" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1010. (references)

Etymology: Why \Why\, adverb [Old English whi, why, Anglo-Saxon hw[=i], instrumental case of hw[=a], hw[ae]t; akin to Icelandic hv[=i] why, Danish & Swedish hvi; compare to Gothic. See Who.]. (references)

 

Specialty Definition: Why

DomainDefinition

Multilingual Slang

Bielorussian (chulia ), Russian (na khuya). (references)

Tips from 1870

Usage: Why. Many persons have a foolish habit of beginning their answer to a question with the word why. In some cases it doubtless has its origin in the desire to gain time while the mind is preparing the answer, but in most instances it is merely a habit.
Some persons prefix the word why to the statement of a fact or to the asking of a question. This is even worse than to employ it to introduce the answer. Restrict it to its legitimate use. Source: Slips of Speech.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Synonyms: Why

Synonyms: how come (adv), wherefore (n). (additional references)

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Synonyms within Context: Why

ContextSynonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus).

Affirmation

As God is my witness, I must say, indeed, i' faith, let me tell you, why, give me leave to say, marry, you may be sure, I'd have you to know; upon my word, upon my honor; by my troth, egad, I assure you; by jingo, by Jove, by George; troth, seriously, sadly; in sadness, in sober sadness, in truth, in earnest; of a truth, truly, perdy, in all conscience, upon oath; be assured; (belief); yes; (assent); I'll warrant, I'll warrant you, I'll engage, I'll answer for it, I'll be bound, I'll venture to say, I'll take my oath; in fact, forsooth, joking apart; so help me God; not to mince the matter.

Assent

OK, all right, might as well, why not?

Attribution

Phrase: that is why; hinc illae lachrymae.

Explanation; (interpretation); reason why; (cause).

Cause

Ground; reason, reason why; why and wherefore, rationale, occasion, derivation; final cause; (intention); les dessous des cartes; undercurrents.

Motive

Reason, ground, call, principle; by end, by purpose; mainspring, primum mobile, keystone; the why and the wherefore; pro and con, reason why; secret motive, arriere pensee; intention.

Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus.

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Crosswords: Why

English words defined with "why": expectI pray, It seemsJohn TyndallOf one's selfplea, profanelyrationalizescire facias, sugar loafTyndallWeber's law. (references)
Specialty definitions using "why": Algrind, Axiom of Comprehensionbabbling error, Because, BEG, Blue-noses, BRYAN, buying motiveC Programmer's Disease, call progress indicator, Candles of the Night, Can't and Couldn't, Choriambic Metre, cognitive behavioural therapy, computer ethics, Contractions, Cow's Tail, Cross, Culross GirdlesDegenerate, Doeg, Drugs, Dying SayingsElectronic Performance Support System, executiveFather Thames, Finding of No Significant Impact, Flowers and Trees with Christian Traditions, four-color glossies, four-colour glossies, FUBARghost, Glasgow Magistrate, Gourmand's Prayerhard link, HELPMATE, HiLog, Homer a Cure for the Ague, Husbandin-band, Information Collection Request, INSURANCE, Intel 8086, International Electrotechnical CommissionJack o' the ClockKederli, Known Lazy BastardMACROBIAN, Mie Scattering, Minor Histocompatibility LociNaso, Newtonian, Nyquist Theorempacket over air, PANKHURST, Patrick's Monument, PEBKAC, Perseverance, petrographic analysis, petrographic examination, PIE, Preference, Printing Officerank, real operating system, Real Programmers Don't Use Pascal, Reason, reason why copy, reason-why copy, redundant work, religion, retribution, Romance, Rule Nisi. Ascarabaeus, Soapy Sam, soul, Source Document, story, String Oriented Symbolic Languagevoodoo programmingWHANGDEPOOTENAWAH, Why you hatin'?. (references)
Etymologies containing "why": Wherefore. (references)

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Modern Usage: Why

DomainUsage

Screenplays

Why don't you tell me my dick is as big as Stifler's (American Pie 2; writing credit: Adam Herz; David H. Steinberg)

This is why Superman works alone (Batman & Robin; writing credit: Akiva Goldsman)

Why don't you tell our daughter about it, honey (American Beauty; writing credit: Alan Ball)

Why do I need a lawyer (The Sweet Hereafter; writing credit: Atom Egoyan)

Why would the courtesan go for the penniless writer (Moulin Rouge!; writing credit: Baz Luhrmann; Craig Pearce)

Lyrics

Why does my heart (Why Do Fools Fall In Love; performing artist: Diana Ross)

And I guess that's why they call it the blues (I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues; performing artist: Elton John)

I'll keep moving on and only God knows why (Only God Knows Why; performing artist: Kid Rock)

So why they call it fallin (Why They Call It Fallin; performing artist: Lee Ann Womack)

Why don't you call me again (Why Didn't You Call Me?; performing artist: Macy Gray)

Clever

Why shouldn't truth be stranger than fiction? Fiction, after all, has to make sense. (references; author: Mark Twain)

The trees in Siberia are miles apart, that is why the dogs are so fast. [About Russia] (references; author: Bob Hope)

Why did kamikaze pilots wear helmets? (references; author: unknown)

When it rains, why don't sheep shrink? (references; author: unknown)

Why are there interstate highways in Hawaii? (references; author: unknown)

Tongue Twisters

Why may we melee, when we may waylay? (references; author: unknown)

Movie/TV Titles

Why Rock the Boat? (1974)

Who Is Harry Kellerman and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me? (1971)

Why Russians Are Revolting (1970)

That's Why I Left You (1943)

Why Pick on Me? (1938)

Song Titles

Why (performing artist: Frankie Avalon)

Why Don't You Love Me (performing artist: Hank Williams Sr.)

That Reason Why (performing artist: Idol Threat)

Why Me? (performing artist: Irene Cara)

Why Not Me (performing artist: Judds)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Commercial Usage: Why

DomainTitle

Books

  • The War on Freedom: How and Why America was Attacked, September 11, 2001 (reference)

  • The Real Environmental Crisis: Why Poverty, Not Affluence, Is the Environment's Number One Enemy (reference)

  • A Housekeeper Is Cheaper Than a Divorce: Why You Can Afford to Hire Help and How to Get It (reference)

  • Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Cosmetic Surgery but Couldn't Afford to Ask: A Complete Look at the Latest Techniques and Why They Are safer (reference)

  • Why Early A.A. Succeeded: The Good Book in Alcoholics Anonymous Yesterday and Today (History of Early Aas Speritual Roots Successes) (reference)

    (more book examples)

  

Theater & Movies

  • Hiroshima - Why the Bomb Was Dropped (reference)

  • Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh? (reference)

  • Why Can't Michael Pay Attention? Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (reference)

  • Why the Towers Fell - An Exclusive Investigation into the Collapse of the World Trade Center (reference)

  • NOVA - Why the Towers Fell - An Exclusive Investigation into the Collapse of the World Trade Center (reference)

    (more DVD examples; more video examples)

  

Music

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Image Slideshow: Why

Computer Images:
Why

More pictures...

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Photo Album: Why

ThumbnailDescription & CreditThumbnailDescription & Credit

Why the rock was being strained 1/2 scale explosion at Dugway Proving Ground. Credit: Coast & Geodetic Survey Historical Image Collection.

Great Blue Heron nesting area, or as it is called, a heronry. Yes, that is a person's head peering out from the tree. Why he was there is unknown. Credit: America's Coastlines.

This is why the South Pole has a geodesic dome. The sledding was great. Credit: Paths Less Taken - NOAA at the Ends of the Earth.

Why this is being done is too complicated to explain. Credit: Paths Less Taken - NOAA at the Ends of the Earth.

This barge-load of salmon attests to why the Alaska salmon fishery was the most valuable fishery prosecuted by U. S. fishermen at the time of this photo. F&WL C-1193. Credit: Fisheries.

North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve. A flight of Black Skimmers demonstrating why they are called "skimmers.". Credit: National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERR).

Why be ruptured. Credit: National Library of Medicine.

Why are advertised remedies and doctors who advertise dangerous? / Smithsonian Institution photo. Credit: National Library of Medicine.

Our only true medical diploma since 1871--none other genuine / Why Dr. Carl Both refused to pay further assessments to the Mass. Medical Society (Suffolk District). Credit: Library of Congress.

Why we reform. Credit: Library of Congress.

Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits.

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Digital Photo Gallery: Why
 

"Why not read" by Vi Xs
Commentary: "Reading my 'Why Not Associates' book."
"Line of Chairs" by Ian Archambeau
Commentary: "A line of chairs. If your going to download the picture it would be cool if you could leave a comment why, thanks."

Source: photographs selected by the editor, with permission from the photographers.

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Familiar Quotations: Why

AuthorQuotation

Author Unknown

Why worry when you can pray.

Cervantes

Why do you lead me a wild goose chase?

Phyllis Diller

Housework can't kill you, but why take a chance?

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Why should we be cowed by the name of Action?.

Robert Burton

Why doth one man's yawning make another yawn?

Samuel Butler

For every why he had a wherefore.

The Bible

My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?

William Shakespeare

Every why has a wherefore.
Why should honor outlive honestly? [Orthello]

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

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Historic Usage: Why

AuthorDateQuotation

John Locke

1690

And why this should not hold in the highest, as well as in the most inferior magistrate, I would gladly be informed. (Second Treatise of Government)

Marbury v. Madison

1803

Why otherwise does it direct the judges to take an oath to support it? (reference)

Winston S. Churchill

1946

If two of the workmen know each other particularly well and are old friends, if their families are inter-mingled, and if they have "faith in each other's purpose, hope in each other's future and charity towards each other's shortcomings" - to quote some good words I read here the other day - why cannot they work together at the common task as friends and partners? Why cannot they share their tools and thus increase each other's working powers? Indeed they must do so or else the temple may not be built, or, being built, it may collapse, and we shall all be proved again unteachable and have to go and try to learn again for a third time in a school of war, incomparably more rigorous than that from which we have just been released. ("Iron Curtain" Speech)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

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Use in Literature: Why

TitleAuthorQuote

Emma

Austen, Jane

And (raising his voice still more) I do not see why Miss Fairfax should not be mentioned too.

Puzzle

Carroll, Lewis

Y! Why, I.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Douglas Adams

Why am I here

Scarlet Letter

Hawthorne, Nathaniel

Especially, she is seldom tolerant of emotion, when she does not fully comprehend the why and wherefore

Les Miserables

Hugo, Victor

And this is why diabetes borders on consumption

Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man

Joyce, James

I know why they scut

King Richard III

Shakespeare, William

Why look you pale

Grapes of Wrath

Steinbeck, John

Why, you can reach out anywhere and pick an orange

Walden

Thoreau, Henry David

Why will men worry themselves so

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

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Non-Fiction Usage: Why

SubjectTopicQuote

Health

But scientists do not yet know why this happens. (references)

It’s easy to see why they connected menopause with death. (references)

No one is sure why this happens, but scientists have some clues. (references)

Business

The French are individualistic travelers, which explains why 70 percent choose Fly and Drive options. (references)

This is the main reason why it is so difficult for smaller crop producers to incorporate new technology. (references)

It explains why the Swiss manufacturing industry has been one of the main promotors of a liberalized market. (references)

Civil Liberties

Congo

The four claimed that they did not know why they had been arrested. (references)

Tajikistan

Others were called in by the Ministry of Security and also asked why they had changed religious affiliation. (references)

Tajikistan

Members of the Baha'i community occasionally were confronted by the police guard outside Dushanbe's Baha'i Center and asked why they had forsaken Islam. (references)

Economic History

Sweden

Consumer goods - why not Sweden? Fashion, health and beauty aids, and the list goes on. (references)

Portugal

Pricing is the most common reason why a number of American products offered in Portugal are not competitive. (references)

Switzerland

This explains why development of new energy sources, particularly renewable energy, has become a top priority. (references)

Human Rights

Denmark

If a judge decides to hold persons in detention, then he must issue an order stating why. (references)

Macedonia

The Government did not issue a statement explaining why it did not release the remaining 24 persons who were eligible for pardon. (references)

Cuba

The authorities wanted to know why the 14-year-old was not attending political rallies, including the May 1 march in honor of workers. (references)

Minorities

Slovak Republic

He further stated, "It is clear that many mentally retarded persons are born into Romani communities, why should the State allow a moron to create another moron and thus raise the percentage of morons in our nation?" In response to his statements, the Slovak Romani Initiative (RIS) filed a suit with the General Prosecutor against Moric. (references)

Political Economy

BRAZIL

If inflation exceeds the outer band, the Central Bank president needs to address an open letter to the Minister of Finance explaining why the target was not met. (references)

Ecuador

Many Ecuadorians who have suffered from the cuts in internal spending still fail to understand why the country cannot afford to continue massive subsidies and increase salaries in the current climate. (references)

Trade

Egypt

Sometimes they damage the sample, which is why different authorities require a complete sample such as a complete carton to assure a product's safety. (references)

Burma

These labor practices are not consistent with Burma's obligations under ILO Conventions 29 and 87, and thus explain why the ILO imposed sanctions last year against Burma. (references)

Luxembourg

This economic integration explains why many industrial and commercial groups have, over recent years, been established in Luxembourg with a view to developing into the European market. (references)

Women

Algeria

The violence was incited by an imam who accused the women of prostitution and questioned why they were working while men in the town were unemployed. (references)

India

In April the NHRC requested an explanation from the Chief Minister of Assam as to why he continued to retain a state cabinet member who was accused of raping a minor. (references)

Worker Rights

Greece

Of female prostitutes, 75 percent are not told why they are being brought to Greece. (references)

Lexicography

Devil's Dictionary

GHOST, n. The outward and visible sign of an inward fear. He saw a ghost. It occupied -- that dismal thing! -- The path that he was following. Before he'd time to stop and fly, An earthquake trifled with the eye That saw a ghost. He fell as fall the early good; Unmoved that awful vision stood. The stars that danced before his ken He wildly brushed away, and then He saw a post. Jared Macphester Accounting for the uncommon behavior of ghosts, Heine mentions somebody's ingenious theory to the effect that they are as much afraid of us as we of them. Not quite, if I may judge from such tables of comparative speed as I am able to compile from memories of my own experience. There is one insuperable obstacle to a belief in ghosts. A ghost never comes naked: he appears either in a winding-sheet or "in his habit as he lived." To believe in him, then, is to believe that not only have the dead the power to make themselves visible after there is nothing left of them, but that the same power inheres in textile fabrics. Supposing the products of the loom to have this ability, what object would they have in exercising it? And why does not the apparition of a suit of clothes sometimes walk abroad without a ghost in it? These be riddles of significance. They reach away down and get a convulsive grip on the very tap-root of this flourishing faith.

Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits.

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Spoken Usage: Why

SpeakerPhrase(s)

Bob Jones

You know I did. Let me tell you why I did. I'm sorry I did. We've all said things we wish we hadn't said.

Dan Rather

The marines' battle cry, their creed, is be quick and be deadly and that is why the corps is expected to be among the first to sweep deep into Iraq.

David Letterman

Nothing's wrong with your brother, but you know by now they're in it for the free meal. You must know by now that that's why they're here. Of course, look at them.

Katie Couric

So I was slightly bemused by it, to say the least. You know, I never can quite figure out who talks, how this gets out and why it appears in print. So I felt very uncomfortable about the whole thing.

Phil McGraw

I absolutely love it. I don't like the therapy model that we have in America, but I love figuring out why people do what they do and don't do what they don't.

Robert Atkins

We don't know why but we assume there is something in carbohydrate that would aggravate the stomach function. Because that's the one thing that's restricted.

Rush Limbaugh

Why, half of Canada comes down here to try to get medical coverage or for major surgery because of how long the waiting list is at home.

Ted Olson

That's the message that Barbara had, and that's why it's so important for her voice to be out there, her smile to still be out there.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Speeches: Why

SpeakerTermPhrase(s)

James Monroe

1817-1825In the West Indies piracy is of recent date, which may explain the cause why other powers have not combined against it.

Ulysses S. Grant

1869-1877Why, it looks as though Providence had bestowed upon us a strong box in the precious metals locked up in the sterile mountains of the far West, and which we are now forging the key to unlock, to meet the very contingency that is now upon us.

Harry S. Truman

1945-1953That is why I have recommended a substantial increase in appropriations for the next fiscal year for this Department.

Richard Nixon

1969-1974Now, this clearly demonstrates why it is not wise to be frozen in on a fixed timetable.

Ronald Reagan

1981-1989Our children come first, and that's why I established a bipartisan National Commission on Excellence in Education, to help us chart a commonsense course for better education.

George Bush

1989-1993But we also know why the hopes of humanity turn to us.

Bill Clinton

1993-2001That's why I recommend spending more to teach them civics and English.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

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Usage Frequency: Why

"Why" is generally used as an adverb (wh-) -- approximately 100.00% of the time. "Why" is used about 50,823 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted)
Parts of SpeechPercentUsage per
100 Million Words
Rank in English
Adverb (wh-)100%50,823166

Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.

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Name Usage Frequency: Why

The following table summarizes the usage of "why" based on a population census conducted in the United States. Ranks and frequencies are based on all names reported and classified.
NameUsage/GenderUsage per 100
million Persons
Rank in USA
WhyLast name13066,501
Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.

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Cities: Why


1. Why, AZ
Zip Code(s): 85321
Country: USA

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Expressions: Why

Expressions using "why": For why i can't conceive why i wonder why reason why reason why copy tell me why that is why that's why which is why why are you going? why did you do it? why do you wink at me? why don't you get lost? why ever not? why no? why not? why on earth? why should i? why so? why the mischief why to be sure! why yes. Additional references.

Hyphenated Usage

Beginning with "why": why-dun-it, why-dun-its, why-not.

Ending with "why": her-why, reason-why, tell-why, w-why.

Containing "why": who-is-this-jerk-and-why-am-i-married-to-him, who-what-why-and-when.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Frequency of Internet Keywords: Why

The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com.
 
ExpressionFrequency
per Day
ExpressionFrequency
per Day

computer does modem not recognize why

6,893

don know lyrics t why

74

why not

1,267

can i lyrics t why

73

why

594

duff hillary lyrics not why

63

lyrics not why

225

why girl like guy

62

why is the sky blue

179

georgia john lyrics mayer why

59

don t know why

155

can i liz phair t why

58

i know why the caged bird sings

150

why do fool fall in love

58

why i love you

141

by duff hilary lyrics not why

57

why man cheat

140

why woman cheat

54

duff hilary lyrics not why

118

can love t this why

54

can i liz lyrics phair t why

115

god kid knows lyrics only rock why

53

duff hilary not why

106

cant i liz lyrics phair why

52

don i t why

98

lyrics why

52

can i t why

91

duff hillary not why

50

why me

86

lie people why

49

georgia why

84

don i lyrics santana t why

45

don i lyrics t why

80

dont know why

44

georgia lyrics why

74

dont i lyrics why

43

reason why i love you

74

why did the chicken cross the road

40

only god knows why

74

don jones know lyrics norah t why

39
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Modern Translation: Why

Language Translations for "why"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses.

Afrikaans

  

waarom (what, what for, wherefore), hoekom (what, what for, wherefore). (various references)

   

Albanian

  

pse (wherefore), përse (wherefore, why (for what)), arsye (account, argument, cause, consideration, justice, justification, matter, motivation, motive, nous, occasion, place, plea, reason, sense, spring), arësye (account, argument, cause, consideration, justice, justification, matter, motivation, motive, nous, occasion, place, plea, reason, sense, spring). (various references)

   

Arabic 

  

‏هتاف يعبر عن الدهشة, ‏لماذا (wherefore), ‏سبب (account, beget, breed, bring about, cause, give rise to, ground, inspire, motif, motive, occasion, procure, purpose, ratio, reason, rise, score, source, wherefore). (various references)

   

Bulgarian 

  

с каква цел (wherefore, whereto, whereunto), я гледай, я (hallo), виж ти, обяснение (account, declaration, exegesis, explanation, explication, exposition, interpretation, keyword, rationalization), защо (wherefore), ами че, ами (indeed, quotha), причина (account, cause, excuse, factor, occasion, parent, reason, room, score, spring, subject), поради което (whence, whereat, wherefore), по каква причина (wherefore). (various references)

   

Chinese 

  

為甚麼 , 為什麼 (for what reason), 怎樣 (how), (how, what, when, where), (carry, how, what, which), 为什么. (various references)

   

Czech

  

tedy (accordingly, consequently, now, then, thus), proè (what for), příèina (cause, occasion, reason, resort, source), nuže, nu, k èemu. (various references)

   

Danish

  

hvorfor (what for, wherefore). (various references)

   

Dutch

  

waarom, hoezo (what for). (various references)

   

Esperanto

  

pro kio (what for, wherefore), kial (what for). (various references)

   

Faeroese

  

hví. (various references)

   

Farsi 

  

چرا (Wherefore), بچه جهت , برای چه (Wherefore). (various references)

   

Finnish

  

siellähän sinä olet (there you are!), sepä vasta on jotakin! (that is something!), sepä sattui hyvin (that was lucky!), miksi (why? for what reason? wherefore?), kas vain (I never, just look, well), kas (..., asia on niin, että, look! look here, you see), han (certainly, indeed, rather, surely). (various references)

   

French

  

pourquoi (what for, wherefore). (various references)

   

Frisian

  

wêrom. (various references)

   

German

  

warum, weshalb (for which reason, what for, wherefore, which is why), wieso (how come), weswegen (what for, wherefore, why wett even). (various references)

   

Greek 

  

γιατί (because), διατί (whereat, wherefore). (various references)

   

Hebrew 

  

למה (what for, wherefore). (various references)

   

Hungarian

  

miért (what for, wherefore), mi okból. (various references)

   

Indonesian

  

wah (gosh, oh, say, well), mengapa (what for), kenapa. (various references)

   

Irish

  

cadinathaobh (what for), cadchuige (what for), cénfÚth (what for). (various references)

   

Italian

  

perche/, perché (as, because, for, in order that, reason, since, so, wherefore), per quale ragione, ma via, ma come. (various references)

   

Japanese Kanji 

  

何故 (how). (various references)

   

Japanese Katakana 

  

なぜ (how), なにゆえ (how). (various references)

   

Korean 

  

. (various references)

   

Manx

  

fa (cause, reason). (various references)

   

Norwegian

  

hvorfor (what for, wherefore). (various references)

   

Papiamen

  

pakiko (what for, wherefore), pakíko (what for), di kon (what for, wherefore), di cón (what for). (various references)

   

Pig Latin

  

ywhay.(various references)

   

Polish

  

dlaczego. (various references)

   

Portuguese

  

porque (because, for the reason that, inasmuch as, just because, since, what for). (various references)

   

Romanian

  

pentru care motiv (wherefore), pãi (well), eh (well), din ce cauzã (wherefore), desigur (certainly, quite, sure enough, yes), de ce (but what), dar de ce, cum (although, as, because, directly, haw, how, like, such as, what, what a .., whereby, wherewith), cu ce scop, bunã (good, grandmother). (various references)

   

Russian 

  

почему (as to why, how come, how is it that, wherefore). (various references)

   

Scottish

  

carson (what for, wherefore). (various references)

   

Serbo-Croatian

  

zbog čega (wherefore), zašto (what for), razlog (cause, excuse, motive, reason). (various references)

   

Spanish

  

por qué (what for, wherefore). (various references)

   

Swedish

  

varför (for what reason, so, wherefore, why?). (various references)

   

Turkish

  

sebep (account, causation, cause, consideration, ground, inducement, occasion, reason, subject), niye, niçin (forwhy, what for), neden (case, causatively, cause, forwhy, ground, inducement, motive, occasion, point, reason, rise, room, seeds, what for, whence, wherefore, wherefrom), níçín. (various references)

   

Turkmen 

  

nдme ьзin. (various references)

   

Ukrainian

  

чому (what, wherefore). (various references)

   

Vietnamese 

  

vì sao (wherefore), tại sao. (various references)

   

Welsh

  

pam (what for, wherefore), paham (what for, wherefore). (various references)

   

Xhosa

  

kutheni. (various references)

   

Yucatec

  

ba'en (what for), ba'axten (what for). (various references)

   

Zulu

  

yini ndaba (what for, wherefore). (various references)

Source: compiled by the editor from various translation references.

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Ancestral Language Translations: Why

LanguagePeriodTranslations
Sumerian3100 BCE-2500 BCE

a-na-a. (various references)

Latin500 BCE-Modern

cur, quare. (various references)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

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Bible Trace: Why

LanguageDateSourceMatthew Chapter 14, Verse 31
Greek (transliterated)250 BCSeptuagintEuqewV de o ihsouV ekteinaV thn ceira epelabeto autou kai legei autw oligopiste eiV ti edistasaV
Latin405VulgateEt continuo Iesus extendens manum adprehendit eum et ait illi modicae fidei quare dubitasti
Old English990West SaxonAnd þa rædlice he ge-feng hyne & þus cwæð. litles ge-leafenes hwi tweonodostþu.
Middle English1395WyclifAnd anoon Jhesus helde forth his hoond, and took Petre, and seide to hym, Thou of litil feith, whi hast thou doutid?
Renaissance English1526TyndaleAnd immediatly Iesus stretched forth his hode and caught him and sayde to him: O thou of lytell faith wherfore diddest thou dout?
Jacobean English1611King JamesAnd immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
Victorian English1833WebsterAnd immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said to him, O thou of little faith, Why didst thou doubt?
Basic English1964OgdenAnd straight away Jesus put out his hand and took a grip of him, and said to him, O man of little faith, why were you in doubt?

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Matched Bible Translations: Why

LanguageMatthew Chapter 14, Verse 31
CebuanoDihadiha gituyhad ni Jesus ang iyang kamot, ug iyang gikuptan siya, ug miingon kaniya, "O tawong diyutayg pagtoo, nganong nagduhaduha ka man?"
Chinese耶 穌 趕 緊 伸 手 拉 住 他 、 說 、 你 這 小 信 的 人 哪 、 為 甚 麼 疑 惑 呢 。
CroatianIsus odmah pruži ruku, dohvati ga i kaže mu: "Malovjerni, zašto si posumnjao?"
DanishOg straks udrakte Jesus Hånden og greb ham, og han siger til ham: "Du lidettroende, hvorfor tvivlede du?"
DutchEn Jezus, terstond de hand uitstekende, greep hem aan, en zeide tot hem: Gij kleingelovige! waarom hebt gij gewankeld?
FinnishNiin Jeesus kohta ojensi kätensä, tarttui häneen ja sanoi hänelle: "Sinä vähäuskoinen, miksi epäilit?"
FrenchAussitôt Jésus étendit la main, le saisit, et lui dit: Homme de peu de foi, pourquoi as-tu douté?
GermanJesus reckte alsbald die Hand aus und ergriff ihn und sprach zu ihm: O du Kleingläubiger, warum zweifeltest du?
Haitian CreoleMenm lè a, Jezi lonje men l', li pran Pyè, li di li: Gade jan ou manke konfyans. Poukisa ou pa te fin kenbe konfyans ou nèt?
HungarianJézus pedig azonnal kinyújtván kezét, megragadá õt, és monda néki: Kicsinyhitû, miért kételkedél?
Indonesian-Bahasa Sehari-hariYesus segera mengulurkan tangan-Nya dan menangkap dia, dan berkata, "Petrus, Petrus, kau ini kurang percaya. Mengapa kau ragu-ragu kepada-Ku?"
Indonesian-Terjemahan LamaMaka dengan segeranya Yesus mengulurkan tangan-Nya mencapai dia sambil berkata kepadanya, "Hai engkau yang kurang percaya; apakah sebabnya bimbang hatimu?"
Manx GaelicAs ayns y tullogh, heeyn Yeesey magh e laue, as haare eh eh, as dooyrt eh rish, O ghooinney faase-chredjuagh, cre'n-fa v'ou mee-ouryssagh?
MaoriHohoro tonu te totoro o te ringa o Ihu, ka hopu i a ia, ka mea ki a ia, E te tangata whakapono iti, he aha koe i ngakau rua ai?
NorwegianOg Jesus rakte straks hånden ut og tok fatt i ham og sa til ham: Du lite troende! hvorfor tvilte du?
PortugueseImediatamente estendeu Jesus a mão, segurou-o, e disse-lhe: Homem de pouca fé, por que duvidaste?   
RumanianKndatq, Isus a kntins mkna, l -a apucat, wi i -a zis: ,,Puyin credinciosule, pentruce te-ai kndoit?``
ShuarNu chichamtaik Jesus uwejnum achik Júak "Maa, Yus Imiá ishichik Enentáimtuschamek" Tímiayi.
SwahiliHapo, Yesu akaunyosha mkono wake, akamshika na kumwambia, "Ewe mwenye imani haba! Kwa nini uliona shaka?"
SwedishOch strax räckte Jesus ut handen och fattade i honom och sade till honom: "Du klentrogne, varför tvivlade du?"
UmaKana'ulu-nami Yesus pale-na mpentoe Petrus, na'uli' -ki: "Kura' rahi-kona pepangala' -nu! Napa pai' morara' nono-nu!"

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Derivations & Misspellings: Why

Derivations

Words beginning with "why": whydah, whydahs, whys. (additional references)

Words ending with "why": forwhy. (additional references)


Misspellings

"Why" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: Hwi, ohy, Rhy, wahaya, wahey, wahh, Wahhh, wh, wha, whay, whe, whi, whie, whieh, whn, whuy, whydu, whye, wiy, wj, woy, wpy, wuy, wy, wyf, Wyhl. (additional references)

Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references).

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Rhyming with "Why"

# of Phoneme MatchesPronunciationWord(s) rhyming with "why" (pronounced wī" or hwī")
2w ī"Wye.
2-w ī"Wye.

Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits.

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Anagrams: Why

Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams

 Words containing the letters "h-w-y"
 

+1 letter: whey, whys, wych.

 

+2 letters: chewy, howdy, showy, thewy, washy, wheys, whiny, whity, withy.

 

+3 letters: anyhow, forwhy, hawkey, haymow, swishy, whacky, whammy, wheezy, whelky, wherry, wheyey, whimsy, whiney, whinny, whippy, whirly, whirry, whisky, whitey, wholly, whydah, witchy, worthy, wrathy, wyches.

 

+4 letters: archway, eyewash, fishway, growthy, halfway, hallway, hawkeys, haymows, hayward, haywire, headway, highway, pathway, shadowy, shipway, showery, showily, swarthy, swithly, thruway, twitchy, unshowy, washday, wealthy, weighty, whereby, wheyish, whimsey, whipray, whiskey, whitely, whiteys, whydahs, wreathy.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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INDEX

1. Definition
2. Synonyms
3. Crosswords
4. Usage: Modern
5. Usage: Commercial
6. Images: Slideshow
7. Images: Photo Album
8. Images: Digital Art
9. Quotations: Familiar
10. Quotations: Historic
11. Quotations: Fiction
12. Quotations: Non-fiction
13. Quotations: Spoken
14. Quotations: Speeches
15. Usage Frequency
16. Names: Frequency
17. Cities
18. Expressions
19. Expressions: Internet
20. Translations: Modern
21. Translations: Ancient
22. Bible Trace
23. Derivations
24. Rhymes
25. Anagrams
26. Bibliography


  

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