| 释义 |
▪ I. whither, n.1 Sc. and dial.|ˈhwɪðə(r)|
Forms: see the vb.
[f. whither v.]
A violent or impetuous movement, a rush; an attack, onset; a smart blow or stroke; a blast or gust of wind; a quivering movement, a tremble; a rushing or whizzing sound; fig. an access or attack of illness.
c1480Henryson Pract. Medecyne 55 Þat ȝe tak sevin sobbis of ane selche, the quhidder of ane quhaill. 1513Douglas æneis v. x. 62 Than ran thai sammyn in paris with a quhiddir. Ibid. vi. v. 85 Quham..Saland from Troy..The deidlie storm ourquhelmit with a quhiddir. 1791J. Learmont Poems 82 (E.D.D.) His dart Hits ane a whuther. 1808Jamieson s.v. Quhidder, A quhither of the cauld, a slight cold. 1825Brockett N.C. Gloss. s.v. Whidder, A whither of cold, a shivering cold. ‘All in a whither’,—all in a tremble. 1853C. Brontë Villette xvi, The ‘wuther’ of wind amongst trees. 1887Jessie M. E. Saxby Lads of Lunda, Running Free vii, ‘Tak' pace till the whidders dill awa'’ (be patient till the gusts of wind quiet down).
▪ II. whither, n.2
see whither adv. 6.
▪ III. ˈwhither, v. Sc. and dial.
Forms: 5 quhedir-, -thir, qwedyr, 5–6 quhidder, 6 -ir; 6–7, 9 whidder, 8–9 whedder, whuther, 9 whudder, wuther, 8– whither.
[a. ON. *hviðra (cf. Norw. kvidra to go to and fro with short quick movements), related to hviða squall of wind (see whid n.2), fit (of coughing), OE. hwiþa, hwiþu (hweoþu) ‘aura’: see whyȝt.]
1. intr. To move with force or impetus, to rush; to make a rushing sound, to whizz; to bluster or rage, as the wind.
1375Barbour Bruce xvii. 684 The stane..flaw out quhedirand [MS. Edin. quhethirand, ed. 1616 whiddering]. 1513Douglas æneis v. vi. 65 Diores, quhidderand at his bak fute hate. Ibid. xii. xiv. 86 Neuer sa swiftly quhidderand the stane flaw. 15..Outlaw Murray xvi. in Child Ballads (1894) ix. 191/2 He heard the..arrows whidderand near him by. a1736Whittell Sawney Ogilby's Duel iv. Poet. Wks. (1815) 170 She whither'd about, and dang down all the gear. 1825Jamieson, To Whither, to whirl rapidly with a booming sound. Ibid., To Whudder, to make a whizzing or rushing sort of noise. 1877J. Fothergill First Violin vi. i, The wind wuthered wearily.
2. To tremble, shake, quiver.
c1450Cov. Myst. (Shaks. Soc.) 122 For joy I qwedyr and qwake. 1790Grose Prov. Gloss. (ed. 2), Whedder, to tremble. Ibid., Whither, to quake or shake.
3. trans. To strike or beat forcibly; to throw violently.
1825Jamieson, To Whither, to beat, to belabour, Roxb. 1828Craven Gloss., Whither, to throw with violence.
Hence ˈwhitherer, a vigorous person or thing (cf. thumper, whopper); ˈwhithering vbl. n., a rushing, whizzing, blustering; ˈwhithering ppl. a., rushing, whizzing, etc.; also, very large or vigorous (cf. thumping, whopping).
1513Douglas æneis v. ix. 29 Ȝoung Hippocaon..A quhidderand arrow leit spang fra the string. 1585Jas. I. Ess. Poesie (Arb.) 15 They heare the whiddering Boreas bolde. 1787Grose Prov. Gloss., Whithering, a sudden great sound. 1790Ibid. (ed. 2), Whitherer, a lusty, strong, or stout person, or thing. 1828Craven Gloss. s.v., He's a girt withering tike. 1847E. Brontë Wuthering Heights i, Wuthering Heights is the name of Mr. Heathcliff's dwelling. ‘Wuthering’ being a significant provincial adjective, descriptive of the atmospheric tumult to which its station is exposed, in stormy weather. 1879G. M. Hopkins Poems (1967) 80 If a wuthering of his palmy snow-pinions scatter a colossal smile Off him, but meaning motion fans fresh our wits with wonder. 1951J. Strachey Man on Pier 20 The routine hours that are without inspiration in a day—those spent in buying stamps for letters, in filing receipts, in the dreary wuthering of machineries, in the changings from place to place.
▪ IV. whither, adv. (n.2)|ˈhwɪðə(r)|
Forms: see below.
[OE. hwider, earlier (Northumb.) huidir, later hwyder, f. Teut. χwi- (cf. which); the synonymous Goth. hwadrē is f. Teut. χwa- (see who). Late and occasional OE. hwæder (see A. γ) is prob. due to the analogy of þæder thither.]
A. Illustration of Forms.
(α) 1–3 hwider, (1 hw-, huid(d)ir, hwidder, huid(d)er, 3 Orm. whiderr), 3–4 wider, quider, 4–6 whider, whyder, (4 huider, huyder, whidur, whydre, wydur, wyddere, quidder, 4–5 whidere, whidir, wyder, 5 whidyr, whydyr, widir, wydyr, whiddir, whydder, -ur, whidre, widere), 5–6 Sc. quhidder, (6 -ir); 4 whithir, quiþer, 5 whiþer, whythyr, 5–6 whyther, Sc. quhither, 6–7 wither, 6– whither.
c825Vesp. Psalter cxxxviii[i]. 7 From onsiene ðinre hwider fleom ic? a900Leiden Gloss. in O.E. Texts 115 Cujatis, huidirryne. 9.. ælfred Boeth. xxii. (MS. Cott.) Ac þær ðu onᵹeate hwider ic ðe nu tiohiᵹe to lædenne. c1000Rituale Dunelm. (Surtees) 55 Svæ hvidder. c1000ælfric Gen. xvi. 8 (MS. Laud Misc. 509, lf. 12) Hu færst þu oþþe hwider wylt þu? c1250Gen. & Ex. 2600 To loken quider it sulde ben went. a1300Cursor M. 64 Wydur [13.. Gött. quiþer, c 1375 Fairf. quidder] to wende ne wat he noght. c1300Harrow. Hell (L) 118 Y ne recche whyder y go. c1320Sir Tristr. 586 He no wist whider to go. c140026 Pol. Poems 22 Gostly blynd goþ, and not neuere whidre. c1450Mirk's Festial 211 Whydyr þat þay ledyn þe wayne. a1483Whythyr [see whithersomever]. a1500Cov. Corp. Christi Pl. i. 230 Then forto goo wyst I nott whyddur. 1513Douglas æneis vi. iii. 80 Behaldand..quhat singnis thai schaw, Or quhiddir thai mark. 1523Whyder [see B. 4]. 1556Olde Antichrist 128 No whider elles. 1588Parke tr. Mendoza's Hist. China 254 They let their ship saile..whither as fortune did cary them. a1700Evelyn Diary 29 Jan. 1645, The towne Aversa, wither came 3 or 4 coaches.
(β) 1 hwyder, 3 hwuder, whuder(e, wuder.
971Blickl. Hom. 99 Hwyder ᵹewiton..þa idlan blissa? c1205Lay. 1202 Wise mi..whuder ich mæi liðan. Ibid. 12169 Liðen wuder swa þu wult.
(γ) 1 hwæder, 4 whader (?).
c1000ælfric Gen. xxxii. 17 (MS. Laud Misc. 509, lf. 23) Ᵹif..he eow axie, hwæs ᵹe sin[d] oððe hwæder [v.r. hwyder] ᵹe willon. Ibid. xxxvii. 30 (ib. lf. 25 b) Nys se cnapa her; hwæder ga ic? c1000Ags. Gosp. Matt. viii. 19 Ic fyliᵹe þe, swa hwæder [v.r. hwyder] swa þu færst. c1400Rom. Rose 1874 (Glasgow MS.), I rought of deth ne of lyf Whader that loue wolde me dryf.
(δ) 3 weder, 4–5 wheder, -yr, queder, 5 whedir, -ire, -ur, -yre, whedder, qweder, quedire, -ur, Sc. qwhedyr; 4 whethir, queþer, -ir, 4–5 wheþer, 5 whethyr, wheither, Sc. quhether, qw(h)eþir, 5–6 wether, 5–8 whether, 6 Sc. quhethire, 7 wheather.
a1300Harrow. Hell (O.) 110, I ne recche weder I go. a1300Queder [see whithersum]. 13..Northern Passion (Harl.) 750 He spird..Wheder þai war went. a1400–50Wars Alex. 3499 Pas quedire as him plese. c1440Gesta Rom. xxiii. 81, I wote not..whether to go. 1471Marg. Paston in P. Lett. III. 24 We wut not qweder to fle. c1480Henryson Fox, Wolf, & Husb. 29 The Uolf said, ‘quhether dryuis thow this, Pray?’ 1589Nashe Anat. Absurd. Wks. (Grosart) I. 70 Whether euery way leadeth. 1639in Verney Mem. (1907) I. 95, I am newly come out of Scottland, wheather I am instantly returning again. 1697Dryden æneis x. 514 Whether wou'd you run? 1722De Foe Plague (1754) 202 In Heaven, whether, I hope we may come.
(ε) 3 ȝwodere, 3–5 woder, 4–5 whoder, -ir, -ur, 5 whodere, -yr, wheoder, hoder(e, 6 whother.
c1275Woder [see B. 4]. c1290St. Christopher 38 in S. Eng. Leg. 272 Ȝwodere þenxt þou gon? c1300Beket 1648 Ynot whoder thu wolt go. c1420Chron. Vilod. 1560 Whethen he come & hodere he went, knewe nomone. c1425Whodyr [see whitherso]. c1440Gesta Rom. xii. 38 Whens art þou, and whodir art þou boun? c1475Partenay 2764 Of your wif enquere..at no day..To what place she torn ne hoder wyll go. 1535Whother [see B. 3 a].
B. Signification.
Now, in all senses, only archaic or literary; replaced in ordinary use by where, or colloq. where{ddd}to: see where 3, 1 c. (Cf. whence I.) I. Interrogative uses.
1. To what place?
a. in direct questions.
c1000ælfric Deut. i. 28 Hwider fare we? c1200Trin. Coll. Hom. 147 Ac wider ȝeden hie? 13..Bonaventura's Medit. 995 Whedyr shulde y wende, to frende, ouþer kyn? 1470–85Malory Arthur vii. v. 219 Ther came a man fleynge..whether wolt thou sayd Beaumayns. 1591Shakes. Two Gent. iv. i. 16 Whether trauell you? 1649C. Wase Sophocles, Electra 15 Whither away? 1697Dryden æneis x. 945 Whence am I forc'd, and whether am I born? 1722De Foe Plague (1754) 143 Whither will you go? and what can you do? 1836Dickens Sk. Boz, Gt. Winglebury Duel, ‘Whither are we going?’ inquired the lady tragically. 1848Thackeray Van. Fair lxiii, What was the use of cavalry in a time of profound peace?—and whither the deuce should the hussars ride? 1884Gilmour Mongols xvii. 202 If souls do not transmigrate, where do they come from at birth, whither do they go at death?
† Humorous phr. (as n.).
1678Ray Prov. (ed. 2) 346 How doth your whither goe you? (your wife). 1721E. Ward Northern Cuckold 7 Not that our Northern Cuckold's Whither D'ye go, is such a Doxy neither. 1725New Cant. Dict., Whither-D'ye-go, an insolent prescribing Wife.
b. in dependent questions and similar clauses.
971Blickl. Hom. 151 Hie..nystan hwyder hie eodan. Ibid. 229 Hie sendon hlot him betweonum hwider hyra ᵹehwylc faran scolde to læranne. c1200Vices & Virtues 17 Þe inreste þesternesse is in ðare hierte ðe ne wile forsceawin hwider he scal ðanne he henen farð. c1200Trin. Coll. Hom. 159 Lusteð nu..hwo hire ledde, and wu and hwider. c1290St. Matthew 140 in S. Eng. Leg. 81 Nou god it wot and seint Matheu ȝwodere is soule wende. 1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 2144 Hii nuste wuder drawe. c1350Will. Palerne 701 It is a selcouþe, me þinkes, whider þat lady is went. c1420Avow. Arth. xxv, The blonke him a-boute bore, Wiste he neuyr quedur! 1509Hawes Past. Pleas. xxxiv. (Percy Soc.) 170 She..did aske me whether That I so rode, and what I would have? 1589Nashe Anat. Absurd. Wks. (Grosart) I. 70 Wee duely consider, whether euery way leadeth. 1660Nicholas Papers (Camden) IV. 216 Intimating that Alison was now gonne hee knew not whither. 1722De Foe Plague (1754) 65 If he knew whether to go. 1840Dickens Old C. Shop xii, Wandering they knew not whither. 1882Besant All Sorts xxiii, What he did, whither he went, where he died, might be left to conjecture.
2. a. gen. or fig. with various shades of meaning: To what result, condition, action, subject, cause, etc.? † to what extent, how far?
9.. ælfred Boeth. xl. (MS. Cott.), Hwæðer ðu nu onᵹite hwider þios spræce wille? a1225Leg. Kath. 1299 Hwider is ower wit & ower wisdom iwent? c1440Jacob's Well 236 Whedir schal þi soule in þin ende, to peyne or ioye? c1491Chast. Goddes Chyld. 12 Wheder is all this become? 1538Starkey England ii. iii. (1878) 215 Wel, Master Lvpset, I perceyue wether you go [= ‘what you are driving at’]. 1611B. Jonson Catiline iv. ii. I 3, Whither at length wilt thou abuse our patience? [Quousque tandem..]. 1625Burges Pers. Tithes 31 Suspecting whether he may be drawne by yeelding that to be a Due. 1652Bp. Hall Invis. World i. §4 If there fall out..any direful prodigies..whither should they be imputed but to these mighty angels? a1674Clarendon Surv. Leviath. (1676) 153 If they had known whether to have addressed their complaints. 1746Francis tr. Hor., Sat. ii. vii. 29 Thou tedious varlet, whither tends This putrid stuff? 1820Shelley Prometh. Unb. iii. iv. 122 Whither has wandered now my partial tongue? 1851Kingsley Yeast x, Oh, Lancelot, Lancelot, whither are you forcing me?
b. Followed by a single word or short phrase.
1982English Studies LXV. 90 The recently recycled interrogative adverb whither (as in Whither Democracy?).
II. Relative uses.
3. a. as compound relative: To the place to (or in) which. Also with correlative thither. Also fig.
c950Lindisf. Gosp. John xxi. 18 Ambulabas ubi uolebas, Ðu waldes ᵹeonga huidir ðu waldes. 1382Wyclif John viii. 21 Whidur I go, ȝe mown not come. 1471Caxton Recuyell 683 To goo whyther the goddes wold consente that they shold dwelle. 1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 26 Prouyde suche money yt may brynge hym whether he entendeth. 1535Joye Apol. Tindale (Arb.) 18 And whother the head went thither must the bodye folow. 1561J. Daus tr. Bullinger on Apoc. xxxvii. 237 Away with them and their sophistrie, whither they are worthie. 1682N. O. Boileau's Lutrin ii. 19 Then whether Honour calls thee, bravely follow. 1836J. Gilbert Chr. Atonem. (1852) 343, I must go whither truth conducts me.
b. as simple relative: To which place; after a noun of place = to which; also with ellipsis = a place to which.
a1400Morte Arth. 3231, I ne wiste no waye whedire þat I scholde. c1400Apol. Loll. 31 He assignid seuenty and two disciplis, and sent hem..in to ilk place and cite widir he was to com. 1549Bk. Com. Prayer, Coll. Sun. after Ascension, Exalte us unto the same place whither our sauiour Christe is gone before. 1609Bible (Douay) Deut. xix. 3 He which..is a fugitive, may have..whither to escape. 1617Moryson Itin. i. 42 Wee landed..in Freesland, at the Village Anion,..whether wee hired a sledge..and were drawne thither ouer the yce and snow. 1664Power Exp. Philos. i. 68 The sense and motion of that part whither that Nerve was propagated. 1722De Foe Plague (1754) 1 The Plague..had been very violent..at Amsterdam and Roterdam,..whether they say, it was brought, some said from Italy, others from the Levant. 1821Shelley Hellas 862, I come Thence whither thou must go! 1825Scott Jrnl. 28 Nov., Dined at Melville Castle, whither I went through a snow⁓storm. 1893M. Pemberton Iron Pirate i, At Cowes, whither I had taken my yacht..for the Regatta Week.
4. In generalized or indef. sense: To (or in) any place to which; to whatever place; whithersoever.
Esp. with addition of † as, † that, † ever, so(ever): see also whitherso, -soever.
c1275Lay. 12169 Ich wolle..wende woder þat þou wolt. a1300Cursor M. 10812 Forto help hir in hir nede, Quider þat [Laud Whethir so, Gött. Queþer-sua, Trin. Whoder so] sco rade or yede. 13..tr. ælred in Engl. Stud. VII. 324 Ȝif þu folwe þis blessed mayde whider-þat-euer sche goþ. 1340Ayenb. 235 Uor to uolȝy þe lamb of mildenesse huyder hit geþ to huam hi byeþ y-spoused. c1380Wyclif Sel. Wks. II. 17 Þe Holi Gost ledde Jesus whidir ever he wente, and what dedis evere he dide. c1440Alphabet of Tales 53 Whider as euer he went, or what thyng som evur he did, he was evur sayand Ave Maria. c1450Two Cookery-bks. 101 Cary him wheþer euer þou wolt. 1523Ld. Berners Froiss. I. ccccxlvi. 318 b/2, I haue hyred this shyppe..to sayle whyder as me lyst. 1596Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, v. iii. 22 Go with thy soule whether it goes. 1648J. Beaumont Psyche vii. cxxi, Whether as he mounts, his News in every sphere He to th' inquisitive Spirits poureth forth. a1672Wilkins Nat. Relig. i. xvii. (1675) 241 We should..follow whither ever he shall lead us. 1722De Foe Plague (1754) 170 They were at Liberty to travel whither they pleased. 1873Browning Red Cotton Night-Cap Country iii. 192 A spark From Paris, answered by a snap at Caen Or whither reached the telegraphic wire.
III. Indefinite and substantival uses.
5. With preceding qualifying words, forming compounds: see anywhither, everywhither, nowhither, owhither, somewhither.
6. as n. (nonce-use.) Place or state to which a person or thing moves or tends. (Cf. whence 5.)
1875[see whence 5]. 1896A. Austin England's Darling i. i, He roams abroad..Spying the where and whither of his foes.
▪ V. whither
obs. form of whether. |