[whence] adv [ME whennes, fr. whenne whence (fr. OE hwanon) + -s, adv. suffix, fr. -s, gen. sing. ending; akin to OHG hwanan whence, OE hwa who] (13c): from what place, source, or cause "then ~ comes this paradox --Changing Times" -- from whence : from what place, source, or cause "no one could tell me from whence the gold had come --Graham Greene"
[2]whence conj (14c) 1: from what place, source, or cause "inquired ~ the water came --Maria Edgeworth"
2. a: from or out of which place, source, or cause "the lawless society ~ the ballads sprang --DeLancey Ferguson" b: by reason of which fact: wherefore "nothing broke -- ~ I infer that my bones are not yet chalky --O. W. Holmes d.1935"