whither Meaning, Definition & Usage

Whith"er adverb

Etymology

OE. whider. AS. hwider; akin to E. where, who; cf. Goth. hvadre whither. See Who, and cf. Hither, Thither.

Definitions

1. To what place; -- used interrogatively; as, whither goest thou? "Whider may I flee?" Chaucer.

   Sir Valentine, whither away so fast? Shak.

2. To what or which place; -- used relatively.

   That no man should know . . . whither that he went. Chaucer.

   We came unto the land whither thou sentest us. Num. xiii. 27.

3. To what point, degree, end, conclusion, or design; whereunto; whereto; -- used in a sense not physical.

   Nor have I . . . whither to appeal. Milton.

   2 Kings v. 25. Syn. -- Where. -- Whither, Where. Whither properly implies motion to place, and where rest in a place. Whither is now, however, to a great extent, obsolete, except in poetry, or in compositions of a grave and serious character and in language where precision is required. Where has taken its place, as in the question, "Where are you going?"