Middle English Dictionary Entry
whī n.
Entry Info
| Forms | whī n. Pl. whīes, whaies, wīes, wīȝes, weies. |
| Etymology | From whī adv.; cp. esp. sense 4.(d). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. for-whi pronominal adv. & conj.
1.
(a) A cause, reason; also, that which provides an explanation; don ~, to give grounds, provide a reason;
(b) that which provides a pretext or an inducement;
(c) on ~, wrongfully, unjustly, without a reason;—?error for on wrie [s.v. wri(e n. (b)].
Associated quotations
a
- a1225 PMor.(Dgb 4)st.49 (2nd occurrence) : Wei, hwi weren hi biȝete and to hwi [Lamb: to hwon] iborene þet sullen ben to deaðe idemd and eure mo vorlorene?
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)3758 : Þou art wunt custummably For to curse for lytyl why.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)4560 : Þou gettyst nat heuene so lyghtly But þou do yn dede more why.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)766 : ‘Wost þou þe why?’ ‘nay,’ she saide.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)12.217 : I sey by þe þat sekest after þe whyes [vrr. whaies, wyes; C: weyes; vrr. þe weyes, þe wiȝes], And aresonedest resoun, a rebukyng as it were.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)19.147 : He…wepte water with hus eyen, the whi whiten fewe.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.777 : Ther loveth noon, that she nath why to pleyne.
- a1425(a1396) Maidstone PPs. (Wht)423 : Lord, let me neuer doo why That I be fro thi face flemed.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)12/23 : A defaute is in þe techers delyueraunce…but if…he ȝelde, ȝeue and assigne þe causis and þe whies of ech special trouþ.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)13/27 : If to a man in þe bigynnyng þe causes and whies schulden be delyuerid to her resoun…her witt schulde þe þerbi oppressid.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)41/184 : Þou art þe why I scle hym so sone.
- c1500(?a1437) ?Jas.I KQ (SeldArch B.24)st.87 : Thay…diversly happinnit for to deye, Sum soroufully, for wanting of thare makis…Sum for dispair, without recoverance…Sum for unkyndenes without a quhy.
- c1500(?a1437) ?Jas.I KQ (SeldArch B.24)st.93 : Fortune…sodeynly maid thair disseverance, And tuke thame of this warldis companye, Withoutin caus, there was non othir quhy.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.2023 : Every labour axeth why Of som reward.
- c1430(a1410) Love Mirror (Brsn e.9)195 : Judas…went to hem and proferede to take hym to hem at her wille so that they wolde mede hym and done hym why.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)843 : Þou muste ȝyfe þe to symonye, Extorsion, and false asyse; Helpe no man but þou haue why.
c
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)32/947 : Fresshe assayle this newe and strong fronter Of thought and woo that this on why [F A tort]…hath holde felonsly The litille ioy y had.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)36/1051 : Daunger…of yville willyng Fulle longe on why [F a tort] hath doon me discomfort.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)151/4502 : Trewly, Madame, That y On whi Shulde dy Were shame.