Sekirov Dictionary

why

/waɪ̯/

adverb 7
exclamation 1
noun 2
verb 1
forms 6

adverb7

•
for what reason, used at the start of a question
- Why is the sky blue?
- Why did you do that?
For what cause, reason, or purpose.
•
Introducing a verb phrase (bare infinitive clause).
- Why spend money on something you already get for free?
- Why not tell him how you feel?
•
Introducing a noun or other phrase.
- Why him? Why not someone taller?
•
For which cause, reason, or purpose.
- That's the reason why I did that.
•
The cause, reason, or purpose for which.
- That is why the sky is blue.
- Why most of us volunteer is that we need some fresh air.
•
With a negative, used rhetorically to make a suggestion.
- Why don't you ask her out for dinner?

exclamation1

•
(old-fashioned) An exclamation used to express pleasant or unpleasant mild surprise, indignation, or impatience.
- Why, that’s ridiculous!
- Why, how kind of you!

noun2

•
Reason.
- A good article will cover the who, the what, the when, the where, the why and the how.
- I don't want to know the whys or the wherefores of your decision.
•
(no longer used) A young heifer.
- At two years old, also, the HEIFERS - provincially, “whies,” are generally put to the bull. — 1796

verb1

•
To ask (someone) the question "why?".
- Why indeed? But once you start whying, there's no end to it. — 1930

forms

whied · whyed · whying · whies · whys · why's

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