(The), subs. phr. (colloquial).—The reason, cause.

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  1593.  SHAKESPEARE, Comedy of Errors, ii. 2. Every WHY hath a WHEREFORE.

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  1624.  FLETCHER, Rule a Wife and Have a Wife, iii. 1. Dispute learnedly the WHYS AND WHEREFORES.

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  1809.  MALKIN, Gil Blas [ROUTLEDGE], 373. When I let him into the WHY AND the WHEREFORE, he laughed ready to split his sides.

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  d. 1897.  JEAN INGELOW, Not in Vain I Wanted. The WHY AND THE WHEREFORE of it all who knoweth?

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