forwhy

English

Etymology

From Middle English forwhy, forwhi, from Old English forhwī, forhwȳ (“why, wherefore”), equivalent to for +‎ why.

Conjunction

forwhy

1. (obsolete) Because.
   • 1596, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, IV.12:

     Then did he cast to steale her thence away, / And with him beare where none of her might know: / But all in vaine, for-why he found no way / To enter in […].

Adverb

forwhy (not comparable)

1. For what reason, for what cause, why; the reason why, for the reason that

   • Forwhy? Yif thou enforcest thee to assemble money, thow must byreven him his money that hath it. — Chaucer
   • no explanation forwhy the country mouse opened his home to the town mouse is forthcoming... — Gillian Rudd, Making mention of Aesop: Henryson's fable of the two mice, 2006
   • "The BBC must also account forwhy it spends much more money per hour than its commercial rivals on breakfast and drive time shows," he said. — BBC under fire over high pay for presenters, 2009

2. On account of which

   • I ne finde no3t atte frume Þat þing for whi ihc am hider icume. — Floriz and Blauncheflur

3. Inasmuch as, since, for

   • That ye to him of hard now been ywonne Oughte he be glad..Forwhi men seith, "impressiounes light Ful lightly been ay redy to the flight." — Chaucer

4. For which reason, wherefore, therefore

   • Me nedeth here noon other art to use; Forwhi to every lovere I me excuse, ... — Chaucer

5. In order that, so that

   • In hyr hand A braunche newe, Forwhy that no man sholde her lette. — Le Morte Arthur

6. On the condition that, provided that, if

   • Thou shalt haue yiftis good, For-why þat thou wilte dwelle with me. — Le Morte Arthur