[where] adv [ME, fr. OE hwaer; akin to OHG hwar where, OE hwa who--more at who] (bef. 12c) 1 a: at, in, or to what place "~ is the house" "~ are we going" b: at, in, or to what situation, position, direction, circumstances, or respect "~ does this plan lead" "~ am I wrong"
2. archaic: here, there "lo, ~ it comes again --Shak."
[2]where conj (13c) 1 a: at, in, or to what place "knows ~ the house is" b: at, in, or to what situation, position, direction, circumstances, or respect "shows ~ the plan leads" c: the place or point at, in, or to which "couldn't see from ~ he was sitting" "kept that horse and gentled him to ~ I finally rode him --William Faulkner"
2: wherever "goes ~ she likes" 3 a: at, in, or to which place "the town ~ she lives" b: at or in which "has reached the size ~ traffic is a problem" "two fireplaces ~ you can bake bread in the ovens --Randall Jarrell"
4. a: at, in, or to the place at, in, or to which "stay ~ you are" "send him away ~ he'll forget" b: in a case, situation, or respect in which "outstanding ~ endurance is called for"
5: that "I've read ~ they do it that way in some Middle Eastern countries --Andy Rooney" [3]where n (15c) 1: place, location "the ~ and the how of the accident"
2: what place, source, or cause "I know ~ that comes from" -- where it's at 1 a: a place of central interest or activity b: something (as a topic or field of interest) of primary concern or importance "education is where it's at"
2: the true nature of things -- where one is at : one's true position, state, or nature