whence

1. 1
   from whereadverbliteraryformal

   Used to mean from where, or from what place or thing.

   The letter was sent back to the town whence it came.

   Whence, I often asked myself, did the principle of life proceed?

   1816, [Mary Shelley], FrankensteinHere, whence means from where or from what source.

   UsageToday people say where ... from: where did it come from?

   Oppositewhither

   Note
2. 2
   as a resultconjunctionliterary

   Used to show that something is the result of what was just said.

   The roads were icy, whence the many accidents.

   Prices rose sharply that year, whence the angry protests.

   UsageUse it after a comma: whence the delays.

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