Whither: meaning, definitions and examples
๐
whither
[ หwษชรฐ.ษr ]
direction, destination
Whither is an archaic term used to indicate a direction or destination, often translated to mean 'to where.' While it has largely fallen out of common usage, it appears in poetic and literary contexts to emphasize a sense of journey or inquiry. The word prompts the listener or reader to consider the destination or outcome of a situation.
Synonyms
to where, where.
Examples of usage
- Whither shall we go from here?
- She asked whither his thoughts wandered.
- The explorers set forth, unsure of whither they would end up.
Translations
Translations of the word "whither" in other languages:
๐ต๐น para onde
๐ฎ๐ณ เคเคนเคพเค
๐ฉ๐ช wohin
๐ฎ๐ฉ kemana
๐บ๐ฆ ะบัะดะธ
๐ต๐ฑ dokฤ d
๐ฏ๐ต ใฉใใธ
๐ซ๐ท oรน
๐ช๐ธ adรณnde
๐น๐ท nereye
๐ฐ๐ท ์ด๋๋ก
๐ธ๐ฆ ุฅูู ุฃูู
๐จ๐ฟ kam
๐ธ๐ฐ kam
๐จ๐ณ ๅพๅช้
๐ธ๐ฎ kam
๐ฎ๐ธ hvert
๐ฐ๐ฟ าะฐะนะดะฐ
๐ฌ๐ช แกแแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ haraya
๐ฒ๐ฝ a dรณnde
Etymology
The word 'whither' originates from Old English *hwider*, which meant 'to what place.' It is a combination of the wh- element for inquiry (related to the pronoun 'who' and adverb 'how') and the directional sense which is present in words indicating movement. The usage of 'whither' peaked during the Middle Ages, particularly in literary and religious texts, yet it has increasingly become rare in contemporary English. Over time, 'whither' was primarily used in rhetorical and poetic contexts to add a formal tone or to invoke a sense of nostalgia. Despite its decline in everyday language, 'whither' is still encountered in classical literature and works of notable authors, conveying depth and a timeless quality to the discourse.