The use of 'why'
I've come across comments like 'Why, thank you.' or 'why, yes' on social media.
Can you please explain to me this use of 'why'?
thanks!
Top answer
This "Why" is an exclamation that is used (usually at the start of a sentence) to add emphasis or express surprise. Unfortunately I haven't been able to find an explanation of how this sense of "why" is related to, or developed from, the usual interrogative sense.
- This "Why" is an exclamation that is used (usually at the start of a sentence) to add emphasis or express surprise.
- Unfortunately I haven't been able to find an explanation of how this sense of "why" is related to, or developed from, the usual interrogative sense.
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This "Why" is an exclamation that is used (usually at the start of a sentence) to add emphasis or express surprise. Unfortunately I haven't been able to find an explanation of how this sense of "why" is related to, or developed from, the usual interrogative sense.
0anonymousCan you please explain to me this use of 'why'?
From https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/us/why#why
1 Expressing surprise or indignation.
‘Why, that's absurd!’
2 Used to add emphasis to a response.
‘“You think so
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