Category:Whence

Whence, adv. Etym: [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.