whence

²whence

conjunction

Definition of WHENCE

1

: from what place, source, or cause <inquired whence the water came — Maria Edgeworth>

2

a : from or out of which place, source, or cause <the lawless society whence the ballads sprang — DeLancey Ferguson> b : by reason of which fact : wherefore <nothing broke— whence I infer that my bones are not yet chalky — O. W. Holmes †1935>

First Known Use of WHENCE

13th century

Rhymes with WHENCE

fence, sense, tense