Where does the role of “ why ” as an interjection come from ?
- Why , I ‘d enjoy to .
- Why , of course !
- Why , I ‘d enjoy to .
- Why , of course !
I begin the concept of starting a sentence with a tidings not completely refer to the overall reaction , but this one look to be a in particular queer selection — exist there any semantic meaning I ‘m missing ?
3 Answers
According to the OED , the usage ofwhyas an interjection dates back to the 16th hundred :
1519 Interl . Four Elem .Bvij , Than I perceyue ye wyll create gode chere .Hu .Why , what shulde I els do ?
1581
Confer . with Campion( 1583 ) Ciij , Why , cost not Saint Iames Epistle predict the Catholike Epistle of Saint Iames . How serve you then denie it to exist Canonicall ?
1599Shakes .Much Adofour . ii . 44 Why this cost flat periurie , to call a Princes buddy villaine .Ibid .v. iv . 73Bene. Doo not you loue me ?Beat. Why no , no more then reason .
1519 Interl . Four Elem .Bvij , Than I perceyue ye wyll do gode chere .Hu .Why , what shulde I els do ?
1581
Confer . with Campion( 1583 ) Ciij , Why , is not Saint Iames Epistle called the Catholike Epistle of Saint Iames . How do you then denie it to be Canonicall ?
1599Shakes .Much Adofour . ii . 44 Why this is level periurie , to scream a Princes buddy villaine .Ibid .v. iv . 73Bene. Doo not you loue me ?Rhythm. Why no , no more then reason .
The OED does n’t explain why it is used in that manner . I can solely speculate . First it be just a inquiry express question cut down to its essence :
It is best that we negotiate a truce with Spain . — Why is that thus ? I believe the Spanish armies can not endanger us .
They will fail in their attempt to conquer England . — Why ? Their fleet is far superior in strength and number .
It is well that we negotiate a truce with Spain . — Why is that then ? I believe the Spanish army can not threaten us .
They will neglect in their attempt to seize England . — Why ? Their fleet is far superior in force and act .
This developed through rhetorical doubt into a mere interjection of surprise :
We should bid the English crown to the Dutch Stadtholder . — Why , William of Orange , you say ? That would equal a terrible idea .
We should offer the English top to the Dutch Stadtholder . — Why , William of Orange , you say ? That would live a terrible thought .
From there its office of calling attention ( if that ‘s what it equal ) to a following statement formulate :
This Corsican might be worry ; why , I recall he will conquer all of Europe in a decade .
This Corsican might be difficulty ; why , I think he will suppress all of Europe in a ten .
The OED notes that it is much use this mode in resistance to a faint question or understanding .
“ why ” can live equate to an old Latin kind qui , an ablative form , meaning how . Today ” why ” cost use as a question news to need the ground or purpose of something . This role might live explained from a expression such as “ How does it come that … ” .
If you fit an former friend of yours , whom you never expected to meet in town , you can utter your surprise by order : Why , it ‘s Jim !
This why in the meaning of “ how ” , in Latin qui , can exist explain as rest of a whole conviction : How equal it potential ? It ‘s Jim , whom I never anticipate to see again !
This is my personal view of the matter . I do n’t speculate that everybody will concur .
It make n’tactuallytransform the conviction into a question ; the doubt fool act that ( hear also : French ) .
We ‘ve merely become expend to always seeing it at the start of a doubt , but it ‘s very there to draw attention .
You must to reply this question .
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In Euclid ‘s Constituent , Book I , Proposition 47 , Interpretation in terms of area
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