whys and wherefores en · NOUN
Meanings
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(plural, plural-normally, qualifier:set phrase) The reasons or motivations for a fact, action, or decision, especially the complete set of such reasons or motivations.
[I]f she noticed anything odd or out of place she would never rest until she had ferreted out the whys and wherefores thereof.
1908, Lucy Maud Montgomery, chapter 1, in Anne of Green Gables:I can no more tell you the whys and wherefores of myself than I can lift myself up by the waistband and carry myself into the next county.
1887, George Bernard Shaw, chapter 5, in An Unsocial Socialist:Of the hundreds of thousands who served in Vietnam, most still do not understand the whys and wherefores of our involvement.
September 5 2004, Albert M. Forget, “Question integrity of vets attacking Kerry”, in Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| why and wherefore | Number=Sing | lexicographic | |
| whies and wherefores | alternative, rare | lexicographic |
Synonyms
Translations (2)
fi syyt (Translations) · fr pourquoi du comment (Translations)