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Whence: meaning, definitions and examples

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ
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whence

 

[ wษ›ns ]

Adverb
Context #1 | Adverb

origin or source

The word 'whence' means 'from where' or 'from what place or source'. It is used primarily in more formal or literary contexts. In modern English, it is less common and often replaced by simpler phrases like 'from where'. Despite its rarity, it conveys a sense of depth or historical context when referenced. The term can indicate origins, inquiries about sources, or beginnings.

Synonyms

from what place, from where, from which

Examples of usage

  • Whence cometh this strange noise?
  • He pondered whence she had arrived so quickly.
  • I know not whence this legend originated.
  • Whence do you derive your inspiration?

Translations

Translations of the word "whence" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น de onde

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เค•เคนเคพเค เคธเฅ‡

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช woher

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ dari mana

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะทะฒั–ะดะบะธ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ skฤ…d

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใฉใ“ใ‹ใ‚‰

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท d'oรน

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ de dรณnde

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท nereden

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์–ด๋””์„œ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ู…ู† ุฃูŠู†

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ odkud

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ odkiaฤพ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ไปŽๅ“ช้‡Œ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ od kje

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ frรก hvaรฐan

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ า›ะฐะนะดะฐะฝ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒกแƒแƒ“แƒ˜แƒ“แƒแƒœ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ hardan

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ de dรณnde

Word origin

The word 'whence' originates from Old English 'hwence', which is a combination of the interrogative 'hwanne', meaning 'when', and the adverbial 'ce', indicating a location or source. The term has its roots in Germanic languages and is related to similar words in Old Saxon and Old Norse. Historically, 'whence' was commonly used in English literature and texts, especially during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. It had a prominent place in the works of notable authors like Shakespeare and Chaucer, where they utilized it to express queries about origins and sources. Over time, language evolution and the shift towards simpler, more direct expressions in modern English led to the diminishing use of 'whence'. Today, it remains a term that adds a touch of antiquity and formality, often found in poetic or literary contexts.

Word Frequency Rank

At #5,335 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.