Whenas, if they would inquire into themselves, they would find no such
matter.
Barrow.
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.]
1. From what place; hence, from what or which source, origin,
antecedent, premise, or the like; how; — used interrogatively.
Whence hath this man this wisdom?
Matt. xiii. 54.
Whence and what art thou?
Milton.
2. From what or which place, source, material, cause, etc.; the place,
source, etc., from which; — used relatively.
Grateful to acknowledge whence his good Descends.
Milton.
All the words of this class, whence, where, whither, whereabouts, etc.,
are occasionally used as pronouns by a harsh construction.
O, how unlike the place from whence they fell?
Milton.
From whence, though a pleonasm, is fully authorized by the use of good
writers.
From whence come wars and fightings among you?
James iv. 1.
Of whence, also a pleonasm, has become obsolete.