Whence
adverb
From where, or from what place.
She went back to the city whence she came.
Often appears as...
- whence he came
- whence it came
Usage tips
Formal
conjunction
As a result of which.
He failed the exam, whence his disappointment.
Often appears as...
- whence it follows
- whence arises
Usage tips
Formal
adverb
From where, or from what place.
She went back to the city whence she came.
Often appears as...
- whence he came
- whence it came
Usage tips
Formal
conjunction
As a result of which.
He failed the exam, whence his disappointment.
Often appears as...
- whence it follows
- whence arises
Usage tips
Formal
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Archaic Usage
Mainly found in literature; modern English often prefers 'where' or 'from where'.
He journeyed to the ancient land, whence his ancestors hailed.
Pro Tip 2/3Poetic Feel
Gives a poetic or formal tone to speech or writing.
To the village whence the river flows, we cast our flowers.
Pro Tip 3/3Implies Origin
Highlights the starting point or origin of a subject in discussion.
This is the garden whence all the flowers are picked for the ceremony.
Pro Tip 1/3Archaic Usage
Mainly found in literature; modern English often prefers 'where' or 'from where'.
He journeyed to the ancient land, whence his ancestors hailed.
Pro Tip 2/3Poetic Feel
Gives a poetic or formal tone to speech or writing.
To the village whence the river flows, we cast our flowers.
Pro Tip 3/3Implies Origin
Highlights the starting point or origin of a subject in discussion.
This is the garden whence all the flowers are picked for the ceremony.
Pro Tip 1/3Archaic Usage
Mainly found in literature; modern English often prefers 'where' or 'from where'.
He journeyed to the ancient land, whence his ancestors hailed.
Pro Tip 2/3Poetic Feel
Gives a poetic or formal tone to speech or writing.
To the village whence the river flows, we cast our flowers.
Pro Tip 3/3Implies Origin
Highlights the starting point or origin of a subject in discussion.
This is the garden whence all the flowers are picked for the ceremony.
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Video examples
A burial practice that...
It ignores the fact that death can be an emotionally messy and complex affair, and that there is beauty in decay -- beauty in the natural return to the earth from whence we came. Now, I don't want you to get me wrong -- I absolutely understand the importance of ritual,
Video examples
A Frozen Hotel? PIPE...
its creators the ice hotel is not so much a building it's an inspiration it's frozen once a year shines briefly then returns to nature from whence it came
Video examples
Mind-blowing illusions PIPE...
finally returning to the world of three dimensions from whence we began
Video examples
A burial practice that...
It ignores the fact that death can be an emotionally messy and complex affair, and that there is beauty in decay -- beauty in the natural return to the earth from whence we came. Now, I don't want you to get me wrong -- I absolutely understand the importance of ritual,
Video examples
A Frozen Hotel? PIPE...
its creators the ice hotel is not so much a building it's an inspiration it's frozen once a year shines briefly then returns to nature from whence it came
Video examples
Mind-blowing illusions PIPE...
finally returning to the world of three dimensions from whence we began
Example 1 of 3
Quote examples
Max Heindel
Danish Celebrity
Music is intangible and ephemeral, but it comes from the home world of the spirit, and though so fleeting, it is recognized by the spirit as a soul-speech fresh from the celestial realms, an echo from the home whence we are now exiled, and therefore it touches a cord in our being, regardless of whether we realize the true cause or not.
Quote examples
David Brainerd
American Clergyman
The whole world appears to me like a huge vacuum, a vast empty space, whence nothing desirable, or at least satisfactory, can possibly be derived; and I long daily to die more and more to it; even though I obtain not that comfort from spiritual things which I earnestly desire.
Quote examples
Albert Camus
French Philosopher
The gods had condemned Sisyphus to ceaselessly rolling a rock to the top of a mountain, whence the stone would fall back of its own weight. They had thought with some reason that there is no more dreadful punishment than futile and hopeless labor.
Quote examples
Lincoln Steffens
American Journalist
In all cities, the better classes - the business men - are the sources of corruption, but they are so rarely pursued and caught that we do not fully realize whence the trouble comes.
Quote examples
Leonardo da Vinci
Italian Artist
The human bird shall take his first flight, filling the world with amazement, all writings with his fame, and bringing eternal glory to the nest whence he sprang.
Quote examples
Socrates
Greek Philosopher
If all misfortunes were laid in one common heap whence everyone must take an equal portion, most people would be contented to take their own and depart.
Quote examples
Edmund Burke
Irish Statesman
If the people are happy, united, wealthy, and powerful, we presume the rest. We conclude that to be good from whence good is derived.
Quote examples
John F. Kennedy
American President
We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch - we are going back from whence we came.
Quote examples
Joseph Smith, Jr.
American Clergyman
One of the grand fundamental principles of Mormonism is to receive truth, let it come from whence it may.
Quote examples
Jean Paul
German Author
Every man has a rainy corner of his life whence comes foul weather which follows him.
Quote examples
Max Heindel
Danish Celebrity
Music is intangible and ephemeral, but it comes from the home world of the spirit, and though so fleeting, it is recognized by the spirit as a soul-speech fresh from the celestial realms, an echo from the home whence we are now exiled, and therefore it touches a cord in our being, regardless of whether we realize the true cause or not.
Quote examples
David Brainerd
American Clergyman
The whole world appears to me like a huge vacuum, a vast empty space, whence nothing desirable, or at least satisfactory, can possibly be derived; and I long daily to die more and more to it; even though I obtain not that comfort from spiritual things which I earnestly desire.
Quote examples
Albert Camus
French Philosopher
The gods had condemned Sisyphus to ceaselessly rolling a rock to the top of a mountain, whence the stone would fall back of its own weight. They had thought with some reason that there is no more dreadful punishment than futile and hopeless labor.
Quote examples
Lincoln Steffens
American Journalist
In all cities, the better classes - the business men - are the sources of corruption, but they are so rarely pursued and caught that we do not fully realize whence the trouble comes.
Quote examples
Leonardo da Vinci
Italian Artist
The human bird shall take his first flight, filling the world with amazement, all writings with his fame, and bringing eternal glory to the nest whence he sprang.
Quote examples
Socrates
Greek Philosopher
If all misfortunes were laid in one common heap whence everyone must take an equal portion, most people would be contented to take their own and depart.
Quote examples
Edmund Burke
Irish Statesman
If the people are happy, united, wealthy, and powerful, we presume the rest. We conclude that to be good from whence good is derived.
Quote examples
John F. Kennedy
American President
We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch - we are going back from whence we came.
Quote examples
Joseph Smith, Jr.
American Clergyman
One of the grand fundamental principles of Mormonism is to receive truth, let it come from whence it may.
Quote examples
Jean Paul
German Author
Every man has a rainy corner of his life whence comes foul weather which follows him.
Example 1 of 10
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