From Middle English, from Old English _hwȳ_, _hwī_ (“why”, instrumental case of _hwæt_ (“what”), literally “by what, for what”), from Proto-Germanic _*hwī_ (“by what, how”), from Proto-Indo-European _*kʷey_, locative of _*kʷís_ (“who”). Cognate with Middle High German _wiu_ (“how, why”), Danish and Swedish _hvi_ (“why”), Faroese and Icelandic _hví_ (“why”), Latin _cui_ (“to whom”, dative case of _quī_ (“who, how, why”)), Ancient Greek _πει_ (pei, “where”). Compare Old English _þȳ_ (“because, since, on that account, therefore, then”, literally “by that, for that”). See thy. PRONUNCIATION * enPR: hwī, wī, IPA(key): /ʍaɪ/, /waɪ/ * (in accents without the "wine-whine" merger) * (in accents with the "wine-whine" merger) * (in accents with the "wine-whine" merger) * Rhymes: -aɪ * Homophones: wye, Y, y (all only in accents with the wine-whine merger) ADVERB WHY (_not comparable_) * For what cause, reason, or purpose. * Introducing a complete question. _WHY is the sky blue?_ _WHY did you do that?_ _I don’t know WHY he did that_ _Tell me WHY the moon changes phase._ * 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?_ SYNONYMS * how come, wherefore TRANSLATIONS NOUN WHY (_plural_ WHYS) * reason _A good article will cover the who, the what, the when, the where, the WHY and the how_. SYNONYMS * wherefore TRANSLATIONS INTERJECTION WHY * An exclamation used to express indignation, mild surprise, or impatience. "Well, I'll tell you...". * Daniel Defoe “WHY, child, I tell thee if I was thy mother I would not disown thee; don't you see I am as kind to you as if I was your mother?” TRANSLATIONS DERIVED TERMS

NOUN WHY (_plural_ WHIES) * (UK, dialect) A young heifer. (Can we find and add a quotation of Grose to this entry?)

* why in _Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary_, G. & C. Merriam, 1913 * why in _The Century Dictionary_, The Century Co., New York, 1911

* hwy.