Whence (?), adv. [OE. whennes,
whens (with adverbial s, properly a genitive ending; -- see
-wards), also whenne, whanene, AS. hwanan,
hwanon, hwonan, hwanone; akin to D. when. See
When, and cf. Hence, Thence.]
1. From what place; hence, from what or which
source, origin, antecedent, premise, or the like; how; -- used
interrogatively.
Whence hath this man this wisdom?
Matt. xiii. 54.
Whence and what art thou?
Milton.
2. From what or which place, source, material,
cause, etc.; the place, source, etc., from which; -- used
relatively.
Grateful to acknowledge whence his good
Descends.
Milton.
&fist; All the words of this class, whence, where,
whither, whereabouts, etc., are occasionally used as pronouns
by a harsh construction.
O, how unlike the place from whence they
fell?
Milton.
&fist; From whence, though a pleonasm, is fully authorized by the
use of good writers.
From whence come wars and fightings among
you?
James iv. 1.
Of whence, also a pleonasm, has become obsolete.
Whence (?), adv. [OE. whennes,
whens (with adverbial s, properly a genitive ending; -- see
-wards), also whenne, whanene, AS. hwanan,
hwanon, hwonan, hwanone; akin to D. when. See
When, and cf. Hence, Thence.]
1. From what place; hence, from what or which
source, origin, antecedent, premise, or the like; how; -- used
interrogatively.
Whence hath this man this wisdom?
Matt. xiii. 54.
Whence and what art thou?
Milton.
2. From what or which place, source, material,
cause, etc.; the place, source, etc., from which; -- used
relatively.
Grateful to acknowledge whence his good
Descends.
Milton.
&fist; All the words of this class, whence, where,
whither, whereabouts, etc., are occasionally used as pronouns
by a harsh construction.
O, how unlike the place from whence they
fell?
Milton.
&fist; From whence, though a pleonasm, is fully authorized by the
use of good writers.
From whence come wars and fightings among
you?
James iv. 1.
Of whence, also a pleonasm, has become obsolete.
