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.]
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1. From what place; hence, from what or which source, origin,
antecedent, premise, or the like; how; -- used
interrogatively.
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Whence hath this man this wisdom? --Matt. xiii.
54.
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Whence and what art thou? --Milton.
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2. From what or which place, source, material, cause, etc.;
the place, source, etc., from which; -- used relatively.
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Grateful to acknowledge whence his good
Descends. --Milton.
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Note: All the words of this class, whence, where, whither,
whereabouts, etc., are occasionally used as pronouns by
a harsh construction.
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O, how unlike the place from whence they fell?
--Milton.
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Note: From whence, though a pleonasm, is fully authorized by
the use of good writers.
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From whence come wars and fightings among you?
--James iv. 1.
[1913 Webster] Of whence, also a pleonasm, has become
obsolete.
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