why-for, why for, advb. and conjunctive phr.
† 1. rel. adv.: = forwhy A. 3, wherefore 4, why 5. Obs.
In quot. with peculiar construction, thus = ‘of which’.
| a 1450 Knt. de la Tour (1868) 67 An aungelle shewed hym the payne..that she was made to suffre.., the cause why for he sawe perfitly, how a deuelle helde her bi..the here of her hede. |
† 2. conj. = for B. 2, forwhy B. 2. Obs.
| c 1450 Cov. Myst. (Shaks. Soc.) 254 Many of ȝow be dome; why? for ȝe wole not redresse, Be mowthe ȝour dedys mortal. c 1489 Caxton Sonnes of Aymon xxvi. 545 Ye have lerned a fowle crafte, that ys, that ye can speke shrewdly wythoute a cause lawfull. Why for I have herde that ye have called me & my broder the sones of a traytour. |
3. as dependent interrog. adv.: = forwhy A. 2, wherefore 2, why 2. dial.
| 1787 Grose Prov. Gloss., Why-vore, or For why-vore, wherefore. 1801 Marvellous Love-Story II. 232 Some folks calls't Crazy Castle, but I never could larn whyfore. |