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What is the difference between thence and whence?

thence | whence |

Whence is a related term of thence.



As adverbs the difference between thence and whence

is that thence is from there, from that place or from that time. (I came thence. while whence is from where; from which place or source.

As a conjunction whence is

used for introducing the result of a fact that has just been stated

thence

English

Adverb

(-)
  • From there, from that place or from that time. (I came thence. )
  • (technical) Commonly used in property descriptions by land surveyors, or aviators relating to IFR established flying procedures, e.g. Cross fix at 6000 feet, thence descend to 3000 feet and fly direct to MAP (missed approach point).
  • (literary) Deriving from this or as a result of this.
  • See also

    * hence * thenceforth * thenceforward * thither * whence

    whence

    English

    Adverb

    (-)
  • From where; from which place or source.
  • Whence came I?
    "Pork" comes from French, whence we get most of our modern cooking terms.
  • * 1818 , (Mary Shelley), , Chapter 4:
  • Whence , I often asked myself, did the principle of life proceed?
  • * 1898 , , Chapter 3:
  • At first I could not tell what this new sound was, nor whence it came, and now it seemed a little noise close by, and now a great noise in the distance. And then it grew nearer and more defined, and in a moment I knew it was the sound of voices talking.
  • *
  • *
  • Usage notes

    * This word is uncommon in modern usage; from where'' is now usually substituted (as in the example sentence: ''Where did I come from?'' or ''From where did I come? ). It is now chiefly encountered in older works, or in poetic or literary writing. * From whence has a strong literary precedent, appearing in Shakespeare and the King James Bible as well as in the writings of numerous Victorian-era writers. In recent times, however, it has been criticized as redundant by usage commentators.

    Conjunction

    (English Conjunctions)
  • (literary, poetic) (used for introducing the result of a fact that has just been stated)
  • The work is slow and dangerous, whence the high costs.
    I scored more than you in the exam, whence we can conclude that I am better at the subject than you are.

    Antonyms

    * (l)