why
noun
1 why
The cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase `the whys and wherefores'.
synonym: wherefore.
Dutch: weswege, waarvoor, weshalve, drijfveer, reden, term, waarom
adverb
Roget 155:
hence,
thence,
therefore,
for,
since,
on account of,
because,
owing to;
on that account;
from this cause,
from that cause;
thanks to,
forasmuch as;
whence,
propter hoc [Lat.].
why,?
wherefore,?
whence,?
how comes it,
how is it,
how happens it,?
how does it happen,?
in some way,
in some such way;
somehow,
somehow or other.
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Roget 461:
quaere [Lat.],?
what,?
why,?
wherefore,?
whence,?
whither,?
where,?
how comes it,?
how happens it,?
how is it,?
what is the reason,?
what's the matter,?
nicht wahr [G.],?
what's in the wind,?
what on earth,?
when,?
who. ?
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Roget 535:
affirmatively
etc.
adj.;
in the affirmative.
with emphasis,
ex-cathedra,
without fear of contradiction.
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,
&c.;
troth,
seriously,
sadly;
in sadness,
in sober sadness,
in truth,
in earnest;
of a truth,
truly,
perdy†,
in all conscience,
upon oath;
be assured
etc.
(belief)
484;
yes
etc.
(assent)
488;
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.
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Moby thesaurus: Chinese puzzle, argument, baffling problem, brain twister, conundrum, crossword puzzle, crux, enigma, enigmatic question, excuse, explanation, floorer, for which, for why, from what cause, ground, how come, jigsaw puzzle, knot, knotty point, mind-boggler, mystery, mystification, nut to crack, on what account, perplexed question, perplexity, poser, pourquoi, pretense, pretext, problem, proof, puzzle, puzzlement, puzzler, question, question mark, rational ground, rationale, reason, reason for, reason why, riddle, sixty-four dollar question, stated cause, sticker, stumper, the big idea, the idea, the whatfor, the wherefore, the why, tough proposition, underlying reason, vexed question, what for, wherefore, whyever, whyfor ... show more.
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