SG Heritage Dictionary

Word of the Day: Catachrestical

Why [Adverb] Webster's Dictionary 1828

1. For what cause or reason, interrogatively.

2. Turn ye, turn ye, for why will ye die? Jeremiah 27:13 .

3. For which reason or cause, relatively.

4. No ground of enmity, why he should mean me ill.

5. For what reason or cause; for which; relatively.

6. Turn the discourse; I have a reason why I would not have you speak so tenderly.

7. It is used sometimes emphatically, or rather as a expletive.

8. If her chill heart I cannot move, why Ill enjoy the very love.

Why [Adverb] Webster's Dictionary 1913

1. For what cause, reason, or purpose; on what account; wherefore; -- used interrogatively. See the Note under What, pron., 1.

2. For which; on account of which; -- used relatively.

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.

Why [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

A young heifer.

Why-not [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

A violent and peremptory procedure without any assigned reason; a sudden conclusive happening.

Whydah Encyclopedia Britannica

WHYDAH. See Dahomey, vol. vi. p. 765.

9th ed. Encyclopædia Britannica, vol. 24, p. 556
[7 words — estimated reading time: 1 minute]

Whydah bird Webster's Dictionary 1913

Alt. of Whydah finch

Whydah finch Webster's Dictionary 1913

The whidah bird.

Affirmation Roget’s Thesaurus §535

N. affirmance, affirmation, statement, allegation, assertion, predication, declaration, word, averment, confirmation, asseveration, adjuration, swearing, oath, affidavit, deposition, avouchment, assurance, protest, protestation, profession, acknowledgment, legal pledge, pronouncement, solemn averment, solemn avowal, solemn declaration, remark, observation, position, saying, dictum, sentence, ipse dixit, emphasis, weight, dogmatism, dogmatics

V. assert, make an assertion, have one's say, say, affirm, predicate, declare, state, protest, profess, put forth, put forward, advance, allege, propose, propound, enunciate, broach, set forth, hold out, maintain, contend, pronounce, pretend, depose, depone, aver, avow, avouch, asseverate, swear, make oath, take one's oath, make an affidavit, swear an affidavit, put in an affidavit, take one's bible oath, kiss the book, vow, vitam impendere vero, swear till one is black in the face, swear till one is blue in the face, swear till all's blue, be sworn, call heaven to witness, vouch, warrant, certify, assure, swear by bell book and candle, swear by, insist upon, take one's stand upon, emphasize, lay stress on, assert roundly, assert positively, lay down, lay down the law, raise one's voice, dogmatize, have the last word, rap out, repeat, reassert, reaffirm, announce, acknowledge, attest, adjure

Adj. asserting, declaratory, predicatory, pronunciative, affirmative, soi-disant, positive, certain, express, explicit, absolute, emphatic, flat, broad, round, pointed, marked, distinct, decided, confident, trenchant, dogmatic, definitive, formal, solemn, categorical, peremptory, unretracted, predicable

Adv. affirmatively, 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, yes, 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

Phr. quoth he, dixi

King James Bible KJV Bible

Berean Standard Bible BSB Bible

284 KJV and 494 BSB verses contain “why” — showing the first 20. Show all 535 verses (searchable)

Genesis 4:6

And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?

“Why are you angry,” said the LORD to Cain, “and why has your countenance fallen?

Genesis 11:9

Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

That is why it is called Babel, for there the LORD confused the language of the whole world, and from that place the LORD scattered them over the face of all the earth.

Genesis 12:18

And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?

So Pharaoh summoned Abram and asked, “What have you done to me? Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife?

Genesis 12:19

Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way.

Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her as my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!”

Genesis 18:5

And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.

And I will bring a bit of bread so that you may refresh yourselves. This is why you have passed your servant’s way. After that, you may continue on your way.” “Yes,” they replied, “you may do as you have said.”

Genesis 18:13

And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?

And the LORD asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Can I really bear a child when I am old?’

Genesis 19:22

Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.

Hurry! Run there quickly, for I cannot do anything until you reach it.” That is why the town was called Zoar.

Genesis 20:6

And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.

Then God said to Abimelech in the dream, “Yes, I know that you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against Me. That is why I did not let you touch her.

Genesis 21:29

And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves?

and Abimelech asked him, “Why have you set apart these seven ewe lambs?”

Genesis 24:31

And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the LORD; wherefore standest thou without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.

“Come, you who are blessed by the LORD,” said Laban. “Why are you standing out here? I have prepared the house and a place for the camels.”

Genesis 25:22

And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD.

But the children inside her struggled with each other, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So Rebekah went to inquire of the LORD,

Genesis 25:30

And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.

He said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am famished.” (That is why he was also called Edom.)

Genesis 26:27

And Isaac said unto them, Wherefore come ye to me, seeing ye hate me, and have sent me away from you?

“Why have you come to me?” Isaac asked them. “You hated me and sent me away.”

Genesis 27:45

Until thy brother’s anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from thence: why should I be deprived also of you both in one day?

until your brother’s rage against you wanes and he forgets what you have done to him. Then I will send for you and bring you back from there. Why should I lose both of you in one day?”

Genesis 29:25

And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?

When morning came, there was Leah! “What have you done to me?” Jacob said to Laban. “Wasn’t it for Rachel that I served you? Why have you deceived me?”

Genesis 31:27

Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp?

Why did you run away secretly and deceive me, without even telling me? I would have sent you away with joy and singing, with tambourines and harps.

Genesis 31:30

And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father’s house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?

Now you have gone off because you long for your father’s house. But why have you stolen my gods?”

Genesis 32:29

And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.

And Jacob requested, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed Jacob there.

Genesis 33:15

And Esau said, Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me. And he said, What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my lord.

“Let me leave some of my people with you,” Esau said. But Jacob replied, “Why do that? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.”

Genesis 33:17

And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.

but Jacob went on to Succoth, where he built a house for himself and shelters for his livestock; that is why the place was called Succoth.