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whence

whence definition

whence (hwens, wens)

adverb

from what place, source, or cause?; from where? whence does he find his strength?

Etymology: ME whennes (< whenne, when + adv. gen. -s), replacing OE hwanan

conjunction

from what place, source, or cause I know whence he comes
from which place, source, or cause we went home, whence we departed soon after
to the place from which return whence you came
from which fact there was no reply, whence he inferred that all had gone

pronoun

a place, cause, etc.: preceded by from: its use is still frowned on by some

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.