'Whence' definitions:

Definition of 'whence'

(from WordNet)
adverb
From what place, source, or cause

Definition of 'Whence'

From: GCIDE
  • Whence \Whence\, 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.] [1913 Webster]
  • 1. From what place; hence, from what or which source, origin, antecedent, premise, or the like; how; -- used interrogatively. [1913 Webster]
  • Whence hath this man this wisdom? --Matt. xiii. 54. [1913 Webster]
  • Whence and what art thou? --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. From what or which place, source, material, cause, etc.; the place, source, etc., from which; -- used relatively. [1913 Webster]
  • Grateful to acknowledge whence his good Descends. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: All the words of this class, whence, where, whither, whereabouts, etc., are occasionally used as pronouns by a harsh construction. [1913 Webster]
  • O, how unlike the place from whence they fell? --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: From whence, though a pleonasm, is fully authorized by the use of good writers. [1913 Webster]
  • From whence come wars and fightings among you? --James iv. 1. [1913 Webster] Of whence, also a pleonasm, has become obsolete. [1913 Webster]

Synonyms of 'whence'

From: Moby Thesaurus