whence
Whence refers to the source or origin of something.
When we talk about the origin of an idea, a story, or even a place, we often use the word "whence." For example, if someone asks you about your hometown, they might ask where you're from - and that's basically asking for the whence. But it's not just geography; it can also be used in more abstract ways. If you're trying to understand why something happened or how an idea came into being, "whence" is a useful word to use.
It's worth noting that there are two main ways to pronounce the word: /wɛns/ (WEHNs) and /hwæns/ (HWENs). The first one is more common in American English, while the second one is used in British English.
How common is "whence"?
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.
adverb
From where; from which place or source.
Example: "Pork" comes from French, whence we get most of our modern cooking terms.
conjunction
Used for introducing the result of a fact that has just been stated.
Example: I scored more than you in the exam, whence we can conclude that I am better at the subject than you are.
Real examples of "whence" in context
