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