Meaning & Definition of Whence in English

Detailed Definitions

• Definition: From what place.

  Example Sentence: They returned whence they came.

• Definition: From which; from where.

  Example Sentence: He was curious whence the package had originated.

Etymology

Origin: Middle English, from Old English 'hwanne' + 'ce', from where; akin to Old Norse 'hvænn' and Gothic 'hwas'.

Synonyms

Common Phrases and Expressions

• Whence cometh: From where does it come.
• Whence you came: From where you originated.

Translations

• Spanish: de donde

• French: d'où

• German: woher

• Russian: откуда

Related Words

• hence: From this time; for this reason.

• thence: From that place; from there.