adv. and conj. Obs. Forms: 1 for-hwí, -hwý, 2–4 -hwi (3 -we, -wi), 3–5 -qui, -quy, 3–6 -whi, 4– -why. [OE. for-hwí, f. FOR prep. + hwí, WHY, instr. of hwæt, neut. of hwá who?]
A. adv.
1. As direct interrog. For what reason? Why?
c. 1000. Ags. Ps. cxiii. 5. Þu, Iordanen, for hwi ȝengdest on bæcling?
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 153. Ach for-hwi nemneð ure drihten þis fa to neddre.
c. 1200. Ormin, 12690.
| Forr whi wass þatt tatt Sannt Johan | |
| Amang þe leode seȝȝde | |
| Off Crist, tatt he ne cneow himm nohht | |
| Biforr þatt he wass fullhtnedd. |
a. 1300. Cursor M., 11157 (Cott.).
| Ioseph, dauid sun, for-qui [(c. 1340) (Fairf.). for-why] | |
| Wil þou leue þi spuse mari? |
c. 1475. The Romans of Partenay, 3464. Alas! this for-whi hast thou me in hate?
b. ellipt. and quasi-int. Cf. the use of WHY?
In many early examples the interpretation ‘because’ (see B.) would be equally suitable, the punctuation being merely due to the editors.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 7. Ure helendes on tocume þincð dieliche and grisliche alle manne. Forwi, for þat he deleð þe sowle.
1513. Bradshaw, St. Werburge, II. 1018.
| The horses had no power any part to take: | |
| For why? by myracle theyr heedes all, in certayne, | |
| Were vp holden in the ayre theyr bodyes sore dyd quake. |
1561. Kethe, Ps. c. 4. ‘All people that on earth do dwell.’ For why? The Lord our God is good.
1601. The Teares of Our Sauiour in the Garden, in Farr, S. P. Eliz. (1845), II. 425.
| Arriued there where his disciples lay, | |
| He found them sleeping through their cares forepast, | |
| And thus bespake: ‘Why sleep you? rise and pray, | |
| For why? temptations doe approach vs fast.’ |
2. As indirect interrog. For what reason, why.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 81. Her me ah to understonden for-whi hit seið alf quic.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 507.
| Schaw sumhwet of ham | |
| for hwi ha beon wurðe | |
| for to beon iwurðȝet. |
c. 1320. Cast. Love, 115. Þe reson is good and feir for-whi.
c. 1384. Chaucer, H. Fame, I. 17.
| To knowe of hir signifiaunce | |
| The gendres neyther the distaunce | |
| Of tymes of hem ne the causis, | |
| ffor-why this is more then that cause is. |
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 4325. And I sall quethe þe forqui · & quat is þe cause.
ellipt.
1710. Swift, Jrnl. to Stella, 23 Dec. I will tell you no more at present, guess for why; because I am going to mind things, and mighty affairs, not your nasty first-fruits.
3. With connective force: On account of which, for which cause; wherefore.
c. 1275. Death, 29, in O. E. Misc., 170.
| Ah seoððen moni mon | |
| biȝet bores and halle | |
| For-hwi þe wrecche sawle | |
| schal in-to pine ualle. |
c. 1340. Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 2478.
| Bot alle our syns þat may be knawen, | |
| Commes of our-selven þa er our-awen, | |
| For-why, with-outen God we syn sone. |
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 4580.
| Ȝe say ȝe sawe neuire soile, · ne na citis biggis … | |
| For-quy as bestis on þe bent · ȝe growe on þe greuys. |
c. 1430. Pilgr. Lyf Manhode, I. xli. (1869), 59. The doublet is maad with poynynges, For whi it is cleped a pourpoynt.
1502. Arnolde, Chron. (1811), 18. For why we wyl and stedfastly commaunde that [etc.].
B. conj. 1. Because; = FOR conj. 1.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 6975 (Gött.).
| For-qui þai held þair lay lastand, | |
| Was na folk þaim miht wid-stand. |
c. 1384. Chaucer, H. Fame, II. 45.
| And al my felynge gan to dede | |
| For whi hit was to grete affray | |
| Thus I longe in hys clawes lay. |
c. 1400. Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 214. Formicam þou schalt brenne, fforwhi a cauterie drawiþ out al þe matere þat is corrupt & waastiþ it awei.
c. 1489. Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, ix. 202. But no man that hath ony rayson in his hede ought not to counseyll you the same for whi the daunger is there grete.
1584. R. Scot, Discov. Witchcr., X. ii. 144.
| Regard no dreames, for why the mind | |
| Of that in sleepe a view doth take, | |
| Which it doth wish and hope to find, | |
| At such time as it is awake. |
1674. N. Fairfax, A Treatise of the Bulk and Selvedge of the World, 188. The Argument drawn from Gods unbounded power and goodness, as looking towards the behoof of the Creature will ever fall short upon this score: For why, there is not a full reckoning up of those attributes of his that have to do in the work.
1883. E. A. Freeman, MS. Letter. It will be pleasant if you go to the Old Borough … Forwhy in that case you will certainly come on hither.
b. For why that: (a) = sense 1; (b) on the consideration that; provided that.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 3499 (Cott.).
| Þe fader luued esau for fode, | |
| For-qui þat he was archer gode. |
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 388 (Roxb.).
| And sayd, ‘thou shalt haue yiftis goode | |
| For why þat thou wilte dwelle wyth me. |
2. = FOR conj. 2 (= L. nam, enim).
a. 1300. Cursor M., 15242 (Cott.).
| ‘Drinckes all o þis,’ he said, | |
| ‘For-qui it es mi blod | |
| þat for yow þan sal be scedd, | |
| And for man-kind on rod.’ |
1388. Wyclif, Gen. iii. 5. For whi [Vulg. enim] God woot that in what euere dai ȝe schulen ete therof, ȝoure iȝen schulen be opened, and ȝe shulen be as Goddis, knowynge good and yuel.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., IV. iv. 445. Forwhi whi schulde he thanne more correcte the other, than he schulde be correctid of the other?
1460–70. Bk. Quintessence (1866), 18. Saturne þe planete naturaly ys coold and drye, and is enemye to al kynde. For why, euery snow, euery hayl, euery tempest, and also þe humour of malencoly comeþ of him.
1513. Bradshaw, St. Werburge, I. 2605.
| Her merytes were moche more commendable | |
| Than were her myracles— manyfest and playne: | |
| For why by her merytes famous and notable | |
| Sygnes and myracles were shewed full playne. |
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turks, 618. Three hundred field pieces, which were not of greater bignesse but that a camell might well carrie one of them, being taken from the carriage: for why, Solyman purposing by destroying the countrey before him, to draw the emperour vnto battell; had (as they said) brought no greater pieces of batterie with him.
