where Meaning, Definition & Usage

Where adverb

Etymology

OE. wher, whar, AS. hwr; akin to D. waar, OS. hwr, OHG. hwar, war, wa, G. wo, Icel. and Sw. hvar, Dan. hvor, Goth. hwar, and E. who; cf. Skr. karhi when. See Who, and cf. There.

Definitions

1. At or in what place; hence, in what situation, position, or circumstances; -- used interrogatively.

   God called unto Adam, . . . Where art thou? Gen. iii. 9.

   ✍ See the Note under What, pron., 1.
2. At or in which place; at the place in which; hence, in the case or instance in which; -- used relatively.

   She visited that place where first she was so happy. Sir P. Sidney.

   Where I thought the remnant of mine age Should have been cherished by her childlike duty. Shak.

   Where one on his side fights, thousands will fly. Shak.

   But where he rode one mile, the dwarf ran four. Sir W. Scott.

3. To what or which place; hence, to what goal, result, or issue; whither; -- used interrogatively and relatively; as, where are you going?

   But where does this tend? Goldsmith.

   Lodged in sunny cleft, Where the gold breezes come not. Bryant.

   ✍ Where is often used pronominally with or without a preposition, in elliptical sentences for a place in which, the place in which, or what place.

   The star . . . stood over where the young child was. Matt. ii. 9.

   The Son of man hath not where to lay his head. Matt. viii. 20.

   Within about twenty paces of where we were. Goldsmith.

   Where did the minstrels come from? Dickens.

   ✍ Where is much used in composition with preposition, and then is equivalent to a pronoun. Cf. Whereat, Whereby, Wherefore, Wherein, etc. Syn. -- See Whither.

Where conjunction

Definitions

1. Whereas.

   And flight and die is death destroying death; Where fearing dying pays death servile breath. Shak.

Where noun

Definitions

1. Place; situation. Obs. or Colloq.

   Finding the nymph asleep in secret where. Spenser.