adv
whence
ehns
adv
1
From what place, source, or cause; from where.
"He returned to the village whence he came."
How to Use Whence
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA formal, old-fashioned way of saying "from where."
When to use it
Literary or archaic — rarely used in everyday speech; saying "from whence" is technically redundant since "whence" already means "from where," though this is common.
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He returned to the village _____ he came.
Etymology
From Old English hwanon, related to "when," with an old adverbial ending added.