Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Whence?

\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. Note: 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. Note: 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.