whithern.¹

Brit.

/ˈwɪðə/,

/ˈhwɪðə/, U.S.

/ˈ(h)wɪðər/, Scottish English

/ˈhwɪθər/

Forms: see the verb.

Etymology: < whither v.

Scottish and dialect.

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; figurative an access or attack of illness.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in specific manner > [noun] > violent

swengOE

stirringc1000

routc1400

whither?a1505

whithering1787

the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > continuous or protracted sound > [noun] > rushing sound

rushinga1398

rusha1500

whither?a1505

whithering1787

rushingness1833

whoop1840

whoo1842

whooping1884

whooing1890

whoof1898

the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > continuous or protracted sound > sibilant sound > [noun] > rushing sibilant sound > whizz

whither?a1505

whizzing1607

whizz1620

whithering1787

zip1850

the world > movement > impact > striking > striking in specific manner > [noun] > a sharp or smart blow

dab1300

rapc1330

thresta1400

bruntc1400

knap14..

yedderc1440

gird1487

yert1509

fillip1543

yark1555

flewet1570

stingera1577

flirt1577

wherret1577

riprapc1580

spang1595

nick1651

lick1680

flip1692

yowf1711

clink1722

wherrya1726

click1773

whither1791

swata1800

yank1818

snock1825

clip1830

snop1849

clinkera1863

siserary1893

blip1894

the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > [noun] > bout or attack of

onfalleOE

cothec1000

bitc1175

accessc1300

attacha1400

shota1400

swalma1400

storm1540

excess?1541

accession1565

qualm1565

oncome1570

grasha1610

attachment1625

ingruence1635

turn1653

attack1665

fit1667

surprise1670

drow1727

tossa1732

irruption1732

sick1808

tout1808

whither1808

spell1856

go1867

whip1891

the world > movement > motion in specific manner > alternating or reciprocating motion > oscillation > vibration > [noun] > trembling or quivering > a tremble or quiver

quavea1382

tremble1610

tremor1635

motitation1649

vibration1650

quaver1736

quiver1786

whither1825

shudder1865

a1505 R. Henryson Sum Pract. Med. 55 in Poems (1981) 181 That ȝe tak Sevin sobbis of ane selche, the quhidder of ane quhaill.

1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid v. x. 62 Than ran thai sammyn in paris with a quhiddir.

1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid vi. v. 85 Quham..Saland from Troy..The deidlie storm ourquhelmit with a quhiddir.

1791 J. Learmont Poems Pastoral 82 His dart Hits ane a whuther.

1808 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. at Quhidder A quhither of the cauld, a slight cold.

1825 J. T. Brockett Gloss. North Country Words at Whidder A whither of cold, a shivering cold. ‘All in a whither’,—all in a tremble.

1853 C. Brontë Villette II. xvii. 8 The ‘wuther’ of wind amongst trees.

1887 J. M. E. Saxby Running Free in Lads of Lunda vii ‘Tak' pace till the whidders dill awa'’ (be patient till the gusts of wind quiet down).

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1924; most recently modified version published online December 2021).

whitherv.

Brit.

/ˈwɪðə/,

/ˈhwɪðə/, U.S.

/ˈ(h)wɪðər/, Scottish English

/ˈhwɪθər/

Forms: Middle English quhedir, quhethir, qwedyr, Middle English–1500s quhidder, 1500s quhiddir; 1500s–1600s, 1800s whidder, 1700s–1800s whedder, whuther, 1800s whudder, wuther, 1700s– whither.

Origin: A borrowing from early Scandinavian. Etymon: Norse *hviðra.

Etymology: < Old Norse *hviðra (compare Norwegian kvidra to go to and fro with short quick movements), related to hviða squall of wind (see whid n.²), fit (of coughing), Old English hwiþa , hwiþu (hweoþu ) ‘aura’: see whyȝt n.

Scottish and dialect.

1. intransitive. To move with force or impetus, to rush; to make a rushing sound, to whizz; to bluster or rage, as the wind.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > continuous or protracted sound > [verb (intransitive)] > rushing sound

whither1487

whowse1620

the world > movement > rate of motion > swiftness > swift movement in specific manner > move swiftly in specific manner [verb (intransitive)] > move with impetuous speed

leapOE

swengec1000

swingOE

throwc1275

hurla1300

dashc1300

fling1300

stetec1330

lance?a1400

slinga1400

whirlc1400

wringc1400

dingc1450

whither1487

chop1555

to cast (also lay) one's heels in one's neck1599

clap1603

precipitate1622

teara1627

toss1727

to keep on at a score1807

whing1882

whirlwind1894

to go off full score1900

careen1923

the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > continuous or protracted sound > [verb (intransitive)] > rushing sound > of wind

whither1487

warble1579

huffle1862

whuffle1906

the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > continuous or protracted sound > sibilant sound > [verb (intransitive)] > rushing sibilant sound > whizz

whither1487

whizza1547

whizzle1582

zip1852

1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xvii. 684 The stane..flaw out quhedirand [1489 Adv. quhethirand; 1616 Hart whiddering].

1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid v. vi. 65 Diores, quhidderand at his bak fute hate.

1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid xii. xiv. 86 Neuer sa swiftly quhidderand the stane flaw.

15.. Outlaw Murray xvi, in F. J. Child Eng. & Sc. Pop. Ballads (1894) V. ix. 191/2 He heard the..arrows whidderand near him by.

a1736 T. Whittell Sawney Ogilby's Duel iv, in Poet. Wks. (1815) 170 She whither'd about, and dang down all the gear.

1825 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Suppl. To Whither, to whirl rapidly with a booming sound.

1825 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Suppl. To Whudder, to make a whizzing or rushing sort of noise.

1877 J. Fothergill First Violin vi. i The wind wuthered wearily.

2. To tremble, shake, quiver.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in specific manner > alternating or reciprocating motion > oscillation > vibration > vibrate [verb (intransitive)] > tremble or quiver

shiverc1250

tremble1303

lillec1400

tryllec1400

quaver?a1439

didderc1440

dadderc1450

whitherc1450

bever1470

dindle1470

brawl1489

quiver1490

quitter1513

flichter1528

warble1549

palsy1582

quoba1586

twitter1629

dither1649

verberate1652

quibble1721

dandera1724

tremulate1749

vibrate1757

dingle1787

nidge1803

tirl1825

reel1847

shudder1849

tremor1921

c1450 Cov. Myst. (Shaks. Soc.) 122 For joy I qwedyr and qwake.

1790 F. Grose Provinc. Gloss. (ed. 2) Whedder, to tremble.

1790 F. Grose Provinc. Gloss. (ed. 2) Whither, to quake or shake.

3. transitive. To strike or beat forcibly; to throw violently.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > impelling or driving > projecting through space or throwing > throw [verb (transitive)] > violently

dusta1225

stetec1330

swinga1400

whirra1400

wapc1440

whirlc1440

to throw off1551

swash1577

ding1614

bung1825

whither1825

the world > movement > impact > striking > striking with specific degree of force > strike with specific degree of force [verb (transitive)] > strike hard or vigorously

dingc1300

knock1377

thwack1533

stoter1690

sock1699

whack1721

slog1824

whither1825

drub1849

thack1861

slug1862

dang1866

whomp1973

1825 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Suppl. To Whither, to beat, to belabour, Roxb.

1828 W. Carr Dial. Craven (ed. 2) Whither, to throw with violence.

Derivatives

ˈwhitherer n. a vigorous person or thing (cf. thumper n., whopper n.).

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > [noun] > vigorous or energetic person

pealerc1400

terrier1532

swinger1583

whipster1590

fireman1648

my (also me) hearty1735

whitherer1790

spunkie1806

vigorist1807

spunk1808

goer1811

smiter1823

hard hitter1831

blue hen's chicken (also chick)1859

stem-winder1875

vital force1886

live wire1896

towser1901

powerhouse1908

jazzer1912

1790 F. Grose Provinc. Gloss. (ed. 2) Whitherer, a lusty, strong, or stout person, or thing.

ˈwhithering n. (also wuthering, etc.) a rushing, whizzing, blustering.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in specific manner > [noun] > violent

swengOE

stirringc1000

routc1400

whither?a1505

whithering1787

the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > continuous or protracted sound > [noun] > rushing sound

rushinga1398

rusha1500

whither?a1505

whithering1787

rushingness1833

whoop1840

whoo1842

whooping1884

whooing1890

whoof1898

the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > continuous or protracted sound > sibilant sound > [noun] > rushing sibilant sound > whizz

whither?a1505

whizzing1607

whizz1620

whithering1787

zip1850

1787 F. Grose Provinc. Gloss. Whithering, a sudden great sound.

1879 G. 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.

1951 J. 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.

ˈwhithering adj. (also wuthering, etc.) rushing, whizzing, etc.; also, very large or vigorous (cf. thumping adj., whopping adj.).

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > rate of motion > swiftness > swift movement in specific manner > [adjective] > moving with impetuous speed or headlong

ranka1250

whirling1382

hurlingc1400

whithering1513

headling?1518

vehement1528

heady1562

headlongc1565

precipitant1649

precipitate1654

torrent1667

precipitous1681

tearing1765

torrentuous1840

whirlwind1865

torrential1877

Gadarene1895

rocketing1952

the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > [adjective] > extremely vigorous

Herculean1596

humming1654

whithering1828

survigrous1835

all out1893

whizz-bang1919

full out1920

1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid v. ix. 29 Ȝoung Hippocaon..A quhidderand arrow leit spang fra the string.

1584 King James VI & I Ess. Prentise Poesie sig. Bii They heare the whiddering Boreas bolde.

1828 W. Carr Dial. Craven (ed. 2) (at cited word) He's a girt withering tike.

1847 E. Brontë Wuthering Heights I. i. 4 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.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1924; most recently modified version published online December 2021).

whitheradv.n.²

Brit.

/ˈwɪðə/, U.S.

/ˈ(h)wɪðər/

Forms:

α. Old English huidder, Old English huiddir, Old English huidir, Old English hwidder, Old English hwiddir, Old English hwidir, Old English–Middle English huider, Old English–Middle English hwider, Middle English huyder, Middle English quidder, Middle English quider, Middle English quiþer, Middle English whiddir, Middle English whidere, Middle English whiderr ( Ormulum), Middle English whidir, Middle English whidre, Middle English whidur, Middle English whidyr, Middle English whiþer, Middle English whithir, Middle English whydder, Middle English whyddur, Middle English whydre, Middle English whydyr, Middle English whythyr, Middle English wider, Middle English widere, Middle English widir, Middle English wyddere, Middle English wyder, Middle English wydur, Middle English wydyr, Middle English–1500s quhidder (Scottish), Middle English–1500s quhither (Scottish), Middle English–1500s whider, Middle English–1500s whyder, Middle English–1500s whyther, 1500s quhiddir (Scottish), 1500s–1600s wither, 1500s– whither. c825 Vesp. Psalter cxxxviii[i]. 7 From onsiene ðinre hwider fleom ic?a900 Leiden Gloss. in Old Eng. Texts 115 Cujatis, huidirryne.9.. Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. xxii. (MS. Cott.) Ac þær ðu ongeate hwider ic ðe nu tiohige to lædenne.c1000 in J. Stevenson Rituale Ecclesiæ Dunelmensis (1840) 55 Svæ hvidder.c1000 Ælfric Genesis xvi. 8 (Laud Misc. 509, lf. 12) Hu færst þu oþþe hwider wylt þu?c1300 Harrow. Hell (L) 118 Y ne recche whyder y go.a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2600 To loken quider it sulde ben went.c1330 (?a1300) Sir Tristrem (1886) l. 586 He no wist whider to go.a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 64 Wydur [Fairf. 14 quidder, Gött. Quiþer] to wende ne wat he noght.c1400 26 Pol. Poems 22 Gostly blynd goþ, and not neuere whidre.c1450 Mirk's Festial 211 Whydyr þat þay ledyn þe wayne.a1483 Liber Niger in Coll. Ordinances Royal Househ. (1790) 19 Clerkes and yeomen..to precede the King..whythyr somever the King go.a1500 Cov. Corp. Christi Pl. i. 230 Then forto goo wyst I nott whyddur.1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid vi. iii. 80 Behaldand..quhat singnis thai schaw, Or quhiddir thai mark. 1523Whyder [see sense 4]. 1556 J. Olde tr. R. Gwalther Antichrist f. 128 No whider elles.1588 R. Parke tr. J. G. de Mendoza Hist. Kingdome of China 254 They let their ship saile..whither as fortune did cary them.a1660 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1645 (1955) II. 325 The Towne Aversa, whither came 3 or 4 Coaches.

β. Old English hwyder, Middle English hwuder, Middle English whuder, Middle English whudere, Middle English wuder. 971 Blickl. Hom. 99 Hwyder gewiton..þa idlan blissa?c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 6072 Liðen wuder-swa þu wult.c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 603 Wise me..whuder [c1300 Otho woder] ich mæi liðan.

γ. Old English hwæder, Middle English whader (?). c1000 Ælfric Genesis xxxii. 17 (Laud Misc. 509, lf. 23) Gif..he eow axie, hwæs ge sin[d] oððe hwæder [v.r. hwyder] ge willon.c1000 Ælfric Genesis xxxvii. 30 (ib. lf. 25 b) Nys se cnapa her; hwæder ga ic?c1000 West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Corpus Cambr.) viii. 19 Ic fylige þe, swa hwæder [v.r. hwyder] swa þu færst.c1400 Rom. Rose 1874 (Glasgow MS.) I rought of deth ne of lyf Whader that loue wolde me dryf.

δ. Middle English queder, Middle English quedire, Middle English quedur, Middle English queþer, Middle English queþir, Middle English quhether (Scottish), Middle English qweder, Middle English qweþir (Scottish), Middle English qwhedyr (Scottish), Middle English qwheþir (Scottish), Middle English weder, Middle English whedder, Middle English wheder, Middle English whedir, Middle English whedire, Middle English whedur, Middle English whedyr, Middle English whedyre, Middle English wheither, Middle English wheþer, Middle English whethir, Middle English whethyr, Middle English–1500s wether, Middle English–1700s whether, 1500s quhethire (Scottish), 1600s wheather. a1300 Harrow. Hell (O.) 110 I ne recche weder I go.13.. Northern Passion (Harl.) 750 He spird..Wheder þai war went.a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 6359 Queder-sum he welk her or þare, þis wandes euer he wit him bare.a1400–50 Wars Alex. 3499 Pas quedire as him plese.c1440 Gesta Romanorum xxiii. 81 I wote not..whether to go.1471 M. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 354 We wut not qweder to fle. ▸ ?a1500 R. Henryson tr. Æsop Fables: Fox, Wolf, & Husbandman l. 2259 in Poems (1981) 85 The volff said, ‘Quhether dryuis thou this pray?’1589 T. Nashe Anat. Absurditie sig. Eiii^v Whether euery way leadeth.1639 in F. P. Verney & M. M. Verney Mem. Verney Family 17th Cent. (1907) I. 95 I am newly come out of Scottland, wheather I am instantly returning again.1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis x, in tr. Virgil Wks. 513 Whether wou'd you run?1722 D. Defoe Jrnl. Plague Year 202 In Heaven, whether, I hope we may come.

ε. Middle English ȝwodere, Middle English hoder, Middle English hodere, Middle English wheoder, Middle English whoder, Middle English whodere, Middle English whodir, Middle English whodur, Middle English whodyr, Middle English woder, 1500s whother. c1275 Laȝamon Brut 12169 Ich wolle..wende woder þat þou wolt.c1290 St. Christopher 38 in S. Eng. Leg. 272 Ȝwodere þenxt þou gon?c1300 Beket 1648 Ynot whoder thu wolt go.c1420 Chron. Vilod. 1560 Whethen he come & hodere he went, knewe nomone.c1425 Engl. Conquest Ireland (1896) 40 Al the englysshe-men..shold ben..frely let goo whodyrso they wold.c1440 Gesta Romanorum xii. 38 Whens art þou, and whodir art þou boun?c1475 Partenay 2764 Of your wif enquere..at no day..To what place she torn ne hoder wyll go.1535 G. Joye Apol. Tindale sig. C.ij The bodye must nedis folow the head, & whother the head went thither must the bodye folow.

Etymology: Old English hwider , earlier (Northumbrian) huidir , later hwyder , < Germanic χwi- (compare which adj. and pron.); the synonymous Gothic hwadrē is < Germanic χwa- (see who pron. and n.). Late and occasional Old English hwæder (see A. γ) is probably due to the analogy of þæder thither v.

Now, in all senses, only archaic or literary; replaced in ordinary use by where, or colloquial where…to: see where adv. and conj. 2, Phrases 2 (Cf. whence adv. and conj. I.)

I. Interrogative uses.

1. To what place?

(a) in direct questions.

ΚΠ

c1000 Ælfric Deut. i. 28 Hwider fare we?

c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 147 Ac wider ȝeden hie?

13.. Bonaventura's Medit. 995 Whedyr shulde y wende, to frende, ouþer kyn?

1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur vii. v. 219 Ther came a man fleynge..whether wolt thou sayd Beaumayns.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) iv. i. 17 Whether trauell you?

1649 C. Wase tr. Sophocles Electra 15 Whither away?

1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis x, in tr. Virgil Wks. 526 Whence am I forc'd, and whether am I born..?

1722 D. Defoe Jrnl. Plague Year 143 Whither will you go? and what can you do?

1836 C. Dickens Sketches by Boz 1st Ser. II. 241 ‘Whither are we going?’ inquired the lady tragically.

1848 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair lxiii. 571 What was the use of cavalry in a time of profound peace?—and whither the deuce should the hussars ride?

1883 J. Gilmour Among Mongols xvii. 202 If souls do not transmigrate, where do they come from at birth, whither do they go at death?

†(b) humorous phr. (as n.). Obsolete.

ΚΠ

1678 J. Ray Coll. Eng. Prov. (ed. 2) 346 How doth your whither goe you? (your wife).

1721 E. Ward Northern Cuckold 7 Not that our Northern Cuckold's Whither D'ye go, is such a Doxy neither.

1725 New Canting Dict. Whither-D'ye-go, an insolent prescribing Wife.

b. in indirect questions and similar clauses.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > direction > [adverb] > to or towards some thing or place > to or towards what place or direction

whither971

whereOE

whereforthc1290

wheretoa1300

wherebya1450

where…to?1768

wheretill1827

which-a-way1909

971 Blickl. Hom. 151 Hie..nystan hwyder hie eodan.

971 Blickl. Hom. 229 Hie sendon hlot him betweonum hwider hyra gehwylc faran scolde to læranne.

c1200 Vices & Virtues 17 Þe inreste þesternesse is in ðare hierte ðe ne wile forsceawin hwider he scal ðanne he henen farð.

c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 159 Lusteð nu..hwo hire ledde, and wu and hwider.

c1290 St. Matthew 140 in S. Eng. Leg. 81 Nou god it wot and seint Matheu ȝwodere is soule wende.

1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 2144 Hii nuste wuder drawe.

a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 701 It is a selcouþe, me þinkes, whider þat lady is went.

c1475 (?c1425) Avowing of King Arthur (1984) l. 392 Þe blonke him aboute bore, Wiste he neuyr quedur.

1509 S. Hawes Pastime of Pleasure (1845) xxxiv. 170 She..did aske me whether That I so rode, and what I would have?

1589 T. Nashe Anat. Absurditie sig. Eiii^v Wee duely consider, whether euery way leadeth.

1660 in E. Nicholas Nicholas Papers (1920) IV. 216 Intimating that Alison was now gonne hee knew not whither.

1722 D. Defoe Jrnl. Plague Year 65 If he knew whether to go.

1841 C. Dickens Old Curiosity Shop i. xii. 156 Wandering they knew not whither.

1882 W. Besant All Sorts of Men II. xxiii. 136 What he did, whither he went, where he died, might be left to conjecture.

a. gen. or figurative with various shades of meaning: To what result, condition, action, subject, cause, etc.? †to what extent, how far?

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > causation > effect, result, or consequence > [adverb] > to what result?

whither9..

9.. Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. xl. (MS. Cott.) Hwæðer ðu nu ongite hwider þios spræce wille?

a1225 Leg. Kath. 1299 Hwider is ower wit & ower wisdom iwent?

c1450 Jacob's Well (1900) 236 Whedir schal þi soule in þin ende, to peyne or ioye?

1493 Chastysing Goddes Chyldern (de Worde) iv. sig. Aiv^v/1 Wheder is all this become.

a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 143 Wel master lup. I perceyve wether you go [= ‘what you are driving at’].

1611 B. Jonson Catiline iv. sig. I3 Whither at length wilt thou abuse our patience? [L. Quousque tandem..] .

1625 C. Burges New Discouery Personal Tithes 31 Suspecting whether he may be drawne by yeelding that to be a Due.

a1656 Bp. J. Hall Invisible World (1659) i. iv. 25 If there fall out..any direfull prodigies..whither should they be imputed but to these mighty Angels?

a1674 Earl of Clarendon Brief View Leviathan (1676) 153 If they had known whether to have addressed their complaints.

1746 P. Francis & W. Dunkin tr. Horace Satires ii. vii. 29 Thou tedious varlet, whither tends This putrid stuff?

1820 P. B. Shelley Prometheus Unbound iii. iv. 117 Whither has wandered now my partial tongue?

1851 C. Kingsley Yeast x Oh, Lancelot, Lancelot, whither are you forcing me?

b. Followed by a single word or short phrase.

ΚΠ

1982 Eng. Stud. 65 90 The recently recycled interrogative adverb whither (as in Whither Democracy?).

II. Relative uses.

a. as nominal relative: To the place to (or in) which. Also with correlative thither. Also figurative.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > direction > [adverb] > to or towards some thing or place > to or towards which place or direction

thitherc897

whitherc950

whereto1340

wheretill1423

whereunto1490

whereupon1560

whereof1659

c950 Lindisf. Gosp. John xxi. 18 Ambulabas ubi uolebas, Ðu waldes geonga huidir ðu waldes.

c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) John viii. 21 Whidur I go, ȝe mown not come.

?1473 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre Recuyell Hist. Troye (1894) II. lf. 341 To goo, whyther the goddes wold consente that they shold dwelle.

1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection ii. sig. Hv^v Prouide suche money that may bryng hym whether he entendeth.

1535 G. Joye Apol. Tindale sig. C.ij The bodye must nedis folow the head, & whother the head went thither must the bodye folow.

1561 J. Daus tr. H. Bullinger Hundred Serm. vpon Apocalips xxxvii. 237 Away with them and their sophistrie, whither they are worthie.

1682 N. O. tr. N. Boileau-Despréaux Lutrin ii. 19 Then whether Honour calls thee, bravely follow.

1836 J. Gilbert Christian Atonem. 446 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.

ΚΠ

a1400 Morte Arth. 3231 I ne wiste no waye whedire þat I scholde.

c1475 (?c1400) Apol. Lollard Doctr. (1842) 31 He assignid seuenty and two disciplis, and sent hem..in to ilk place and cite widir he was to com.

1549 Bk. Common Prayer (STC 16267) Celebr. Holye Communion f. lxviii Exalte vs vnto the same place whither our sauiour Christe is gone before.

1609 Bible (Douay) I. Deut. xix. 3 He which..is a fugitive, may have..whither to escape.

1617 F. Moryson Itinerary i. 42 Wee landed..in Freesland, at the Village Anion,..whether wee hired a sledge..and were drawne thither ouer the yce and snow.

1664 H. Power Exper. Philos. i. 68 The sense and motion of that part whither that Nerve was propagated.

1722 D. Defoe Jrnl. Plague Year 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.

1822 P. B. Shelley Hellas 43 I come Thence whither thou must go.

1825 W. Scott Jrnl. 28 Nov. (1939) 21 Dined at Melville Castle, whither I went through a snow-storm.

1893 M. Pemberton Iron Pirate i At Cowes, whither I had taken my yacht..for the Regatta Week.

4. In generalized or indefinite sense: To (or in) any place to which; to whatever place; whithersoever.Esp. with addition of †as, †that, †ever, so(ever): see also whitherso adv., whithersoever adv.

ΚΠ

c1275 Laȝamon Brut 12169 Ich wolle..wende woder þat þou wolt.

1340 Ayenbite (1866) 235 Uor to uolȝy þe lamb of mildenesse huyder hit geþ to huam hi byeþ y-spoused.

c1380 J. Wyclif Sel. Wks. II. 17 Þe Holi Gost ledde Jesus whidir ever he wente, and what dedis evere he dide.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 10812 Forto help hir in hir nede, Quider þat [Gött. Queþer-sua, Trin. Cambr. Whoder so; c1460 Laud Whethir so] sco rade or yede.

c1400 tr. Aelred of Rievaulx De Institutione Inclusarum (Vernon) (1984) 42 Ȝif þu folwe þis blessed mayde whider þat euer sche goþ.

c1440 Alphabet of Tales 53 Whider as euer he went, or what thyng som evur he did, he was evur sayand Ave Maria.

c1450 Two Cookery-bks. 101 Cary him wheþer euer þou wolt.

1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. ccccxlvi. 318 b/2 I haue hyred this shyppe..to sayle whyder as me lyst.

1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 v. iii. 22 Goe with thy soule whither it goes.

1648 J. Beaumont Psyche vii. cviii. 104 Whether as He mounted up, the News He tells To every Orb and Star.

a1672 Bp. J. Wilkins Of Princ. Nat. Relig. (1675) i. xvii. 241 We should..follow whither ever he shall lead us.

1722 D. Defoe Jrnl. Plague Year 170 They were at Liberty to travel whither they pleased.

1873 R. Browning Red Cotton Night-cap Country iii. 157 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 adv., everywhither adv., nowhither adv., owhither adv., somewhither adv.

6. as n. (nonce-use.) Place or state to which a person or thing moves or tends. (Cf. whence adv. and conj. 5.)

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > place > [noun] > to which something tends

whither1875

1875 E. White Life in Christ (1878) i. iv. 30 Uncertain as to the Whence and Whither of humanity.

1896 A. Austin England's Darling i. i He roams abroad..Spying the where and whither of his foes.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1924; most recently modified version published online December 2021).

n.¹?a1505

v.c1450

adv.n.²9..

单词	whither
释义	whithern.¹ Brit. /ˈwɪðə/, /ˈhwɪðə/, U.S. /ˈ(h)wɪðər/, Scottish English /ˈhwɪθər/ Forms: see the verb. Etymology: < whither v. Scottish and dialect. 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; figurative an access or attack of illness. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in specific manner > [noun] > violent swengOE stirringc1000 routc1400 whither?a1505 whithering1787 the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > continuous or protracted sound > [noun] > rushing sound rushinga1398 rusha1500 whither?a1505 whithering1787 rushingness1833 whoop1840 whoo1842 whooping1884 whooing1890 whoof1898 the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > continuous or protracted sound > sibilant sound > [noun] > rushing sibilant sound > whizz whither?a1505 whizzing1607 whizz1620 whithering1787 zip1850 the world > movement > impact > striking > striking in specific manner > [noun] > a sharp or smart blow dab1300 rapc1330 thresta1400 bruntc1400 knap14.. yedderc1440 gird1487 yert1509 fillip1543 yark1555 flewet1570 stingera1577 flirt1577 wherret1577 riprapc1580 spang1595 nick1651 lick1680 flip1692 yowf1711 clink1722 wherrya1726 click1773 whither1791 swata1800 yank1818 snock1825 clip1830 snop1849 clinkera1863 siserary1893 blip1894 the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > [noun] > bout or attack of onfalleOE cothec1000 bitc1175 accessc1300 attacha1400 shota1400 swalma1400 storm1540 excess?1541 accession1565 qualm1565 oncome1570 grasha1610 attachment1625 ingruence1635 turn1653 attack1665 fit1667 surprise1670 drow1727 tossa1732 irruption1732 sick1808 tout1808 whither1808 spell1856 go1867 whip1891 the world > movement > motion in specific manner > alternating or reciprocating motion > oscillation > vibration > [noun] > trembling or quivering > a tremble or quiver quavea1382 tremble1610 tremor1635 motitation1649 vibration1650 quaver1736 quiver1786 whither1825 shudder1865 a1505 R. Henryson Sum Pract. Med. 55 in Poems (1981) 181 That ȝe tak Sevin sobbis of ane selche, the quhidder of ane quhaill. 1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid v. x. 62 Than ran thai sammyn in paris with a quhiddir. 1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid vi. v. 85 Quham..Saland from Troy..The deidlie storm ourquhelmit with a quhiddir. 1791 J. Learmont Poems Pastoral 82 His dart Hits ane a whuther. 1808 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. at Quhidder A quhither of the cauld, a slight cold. 1825 J. T. Brockett Gloss. North Country Words at Whidder A whither of cold, a shivering cold. ‘All in a whither’,—all in a tremble. 1853 C. Brontë Villette II. xvii. 8 The ‘wuther’ of wind amongst trees. 1887 J. M. E. Saxby Running Free in Lads of Lunda vii ‘Tak' pace till the whidders dill awa'’ (be patient till the gusts of wind quiet down). This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1924; most recently modified version published online December 2021). whitherv. Brit. /ˈwɪðə/, /ˈhwɪðə/, U.S. /ˈ(h)wɪðər/, Scottish English /ˈhwɪθər/ Forms: Middle English quhedir, quhethir, qwedyr, Middle English–1500s quhidder, 1500s quhiddir; 1500s–1600s, 1800s whidder, 1700s–1800s whedder, whuther, 1800s whudder, wuther, 1700s– whither. Origin: A borrowing from early Scandinavian. Etymon: Norse hviðra. Etymology: < Old Norse hviðra (compare Norwegian kvidra to go to and fro with short quick movements), related to hviða squall of wind (see whid n.²), fit (of coughing), Old English hwiþa , hwiþu (hweoþu ) ‘aura’: see whyȝt n. Scottish and dialect. 1. intransitive. To move with force or impetus, to rush; to make a rushing sound, to whizz; to bluster or rage, as the wind. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > continuous or protracted sound > [verb (intransitive)] > rushing sound whither1487 whowse1620 the world > movement > rate of motion > swiftness > swift movement in specific manner > move swiftly in specific manner [verb (intransitive)] > move with impetuous speed leapOE swengec1000 swingOE throwc1275 hurla1300 dashc1300 fling1300 stetec1330 lance?a1400 slinga1400 whirlc1400 wringc1400 dingc1450 whither1487 chop1555 to cast (also lay) one's heels in one's neck1599 clap1603 precipitate1622 teara1627 toss1727 to keep on at a score1807 whing1882 whirlwind1894 to go off full score1900 careen1923 the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > continuous or protracted sound > [verb (intransitive)] > rushing sound > of wind whither1487 warble1579 huffle1862 whuffle1906 the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > continuous or protracted sound > sibilant sound > [verb (intransitive)] > rushing sibilant sound > whizz whither1487 whizza1547 whizzle1582 zip1852 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xvii. 684 The stane..flaw out quhedirand [1489 Adv. quhethirand; 1616 Hart whiddering]. 1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid v. vi. 65 Diores, quhidderand at his bak fute hate. 1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid xii. xiv. 86 Neuer sa swiftly quhidderand the stane flaw. 15.. Outlaw Murray xvi, in F. J. Child Eng. & Sc. Pop. Ballads (1894) V. ix. 191/2 He heard the..arrows whidderand near him by. a1736 T. Whittell Sawney Ogilby's Duel iv, in Poet. Wks. (1815) 170 She whither'd about, and dang down all the gear. 1825 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Suppl. To Whither, to whirl rapidly with a booming sound. 1825 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Suppl. To Whudder, to make a whizzing or rushing sort of noise. 1877 J. Fothergill First Violin vi. i The wind wuthered wearily. 2. To tremble, shake, quiver. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in specific manner > alternating or reciprocating motion > oscillation > vibration > vibrate [verb (intransitive)] > tremble or quiver shiverc1250 tremble1303 lillec1400 tryllec1400 quaver?a1439 didderc1440 dadderc1450 whitherc1450 bever1470 dindle1470 brawl1489 quiver1490 quitter1513 flichter1528 warble1549 palsy1582 quoba1586 twitter1629 dither1649 verberate1652 quibble1721 dandera1724 tremulate1749 vibrate1757 dingle1787 nidge1803 tirl1825 reel1847 shudder1849 tremor1921 c1450 Cov. Myst. (Shaks. Soc.) 122 For joy I qwedyr and qwake. 1790 F. Grose Provinc. Gloss. (ed. 2) Whedder, to tremble. 1790 F. Grose Provinc. Gloss. (ed. 2) Whither, to quake or shake. 3. transitive. To strike or beat forcibly; to throw violently. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > impelling or driving > projecting through space or throwing > throw [verb (transitive)] > violently dusta1225 stetec1330 swinga1400 whirra1400 wapc1440 whirlc1440 to throw off1551 swash1577 ding1614 bung1825 whither1825 the world > movement > impact > striking > striking with specific degree of force > strike with specific degree of force [verb (transitive)] > strike hard or vigorously dingc1300 knock1377 thwack1533 stoter1690 sock1699 whack1721 slog1824 whither1825 drub1849 thack1861 slug1862 dang1866 whomp1973 1825 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Suppl. To Whither, to beat, to belabour, Roxb. 1828 W. Carr Dial. Craven (ed. 2) Whither, to throw with violence. Derivatives ˈwhitherer n. a vigorous person or thing (cf. thumper n., whopper n.). ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > [noun] > vigorous or energetic person pealerc1400 terrier1532 swinger1583 whipster1590 fireman1648 my (also me) hearty1735 whitherer1790 spunkie1806 vigorist1807 spunk1808 goer1811 smiter1823 hard hitter1831 blue hen's chicken (also chick)1859 stem-winder1875 vital force1886 live wire1896 towser1901 powerhouse1908 jazzer1912 1790 F. Grose Provinc. Gloss. (ed. 2) Whitherer, a lusty, strong, or stout person, or thing. ˈwhithering n. (also wuthering, etc.) a rushing, whizzing, blustering. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in specific manner > [noun] > violent swengOE stirringc1000 routc1400 whither?a1505 whithering1787 the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > continuous or protracted sound > [noun] > rushing sound rushinga1398 rusha1500 whither?a1505 whithering1787 rushingness1833 whoop1840 whoo1842 whooping1884 whooing1890 whoof1898 the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > continuous or protracted sound > sibilant sound > [noun] > rushing sibilant sound > whizz whither?a1505 whizzing1607 whizz1620 whithering1787 zip1850 1787 F. Grose Provinc. Gloss. Whithering, a sudden great sound. 1879 G. 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. 1951 J. 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. ˈwhithering adj. (also wuthering, etc.) rushing, whizzing, etc.; also, very large or vigorous (cf. thumping adj., whopping adj.). ΘΚΠ the world > movement > rate of motion > swiftness > swift movement in specific manner > [adjective] > moving with impetuous speed or headlong ranka1250 whirling1382 hurlingc1400 whithering1513 headling?1518 vehement1528 heady1562 headlongc1565 precipitant1649 precipitate1654 torrent1667 precipitous1681 tearing1765 torrentuous1840 whirlwind1865 torrential1877 Gadarene1895 rocketing1952 the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > [adjective] > extremely vigorous Herculean1596 humming1654 whithering1828 survigrous1835 all out1893 whizz-bang1919 full out1920 1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid v. ix. 29 Ȝoung Hippocaon..A quhidderand arrow leit spang fra the string. 1584 King James VI & I Ess. Prentise Poesie sig. Bii They heare the whiddering Boreas bolde. 1828 W. Carr Dial. Craven (ed. 2) (at cited word) He's a girt withering tike. 1847 E. Brontë Wuthering Heights I. i. 4 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. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1924; most recently modified version published online December 2021). whitheradv.n.² Brit. /ˈwɪðə/, U.S. /ˈ(h)wɪðər/ Forms: α. Old English huidder, Old English huiddir, Old English huidir, Old English hwidder, Old English hwiddir, Old English hwidir, Old English–Middle English huider, Old English–Middle English hwider, Middle English huyder, Middle English quidder, Middle English quider, Middle English quiþer, Middle English whiddir, Middle English whidere, Middle English whiderr ( Ormulum), Middle English whidir, Middle English whidre, Middle English whidur, Middle English whidyr, Middle English whiþer, Middle English whithir, Middle English whydder, Middle English whyddur, Middle English whydre, Middle English whydyr, Middle English whythyr, Middle English wider, Middle English widere, Middle English widir, Middle English wyddere, Middle English wyder, Middle English wydur, Middle English wydyr, Middle English–1500s quhidder (Scottish), Middle English–1500s quhither (Scottish), Middle English–1500s whider, Middle English–1500s whyder, Middle English–1500s whyther, 1500s quhiddir (Scottish), 1500s–1600s wither, 1500s– whither. c825 Vesp. Psalter cxxxviii[i]. 7 From onsiene ðinre hwider fleom ic?a900 Leiden Gloss. in Old Eng. Texts 115 Cujatis, huidirryne.9.. Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. xxii. (MS. Cott.) Ac þær ðu ongeate hwider ic ðe nu tiohige to lædenne.c1000 in J. Stevenson Rituale Ecclesiæ Dunelmensis (1840) 55 Svæ hvidder.c1000 Ælfric Genesis xvi. 8 (Laud Misc. 509, lf. 12) Hu færst þu oþþe hwider wylt þu?c1300 Harrow. Hell (L) 118 Y ne recche whyder y go.a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2600 To loken quider it sulde ben went.c1330 (?a1300) Sir Tristrem (1886) l. 586 He no wist whider to go.a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 64 Wydur [Fairf. 14 quidder, Gött. Quiþer] to wende ne wat he noght.c1400 26 Pol. Poems 22 Gostly blynd goþ, and not neuere whidre.c1450 Mirk's Festial 211 Whydyr þat þay ledyn þe wayne.a1483 Liber Niger in Coll. Ordinances Royal Househ. (1790) 19 Clerkes and yeomen..to precede the King..whythyr somever the King go.a1500 Cov. Corp. Christi Pl. i. 230 Then forto goo wyst I nott whyddur.1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid vi. iii. 80 Behaldand..quhat singnis thai schaw, Or quhiddir thai mark. 1523Whyder [see sense 4]. 1556 J. Olde tr. R. Gwalther Antichrist f. 128 No whider elles.1588 R. Parke tr. J. G. de Mendoza Hist. Kingdome of China 254 They let their ship saile..whither as fortune did cary them.a1660 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1645 (1955) II. 325 The Towne Aversa, whither came 3 or 4 Coaches. β. Old English hwyder, Middle English hwuder, Middle English whuder, Middle English whudere, Middle English wuder. 971 Blickl. Hom. 99 Hwyder gewiton..þa idlan blissa?c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 6072 Liðen wuder-swa þu wult.c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 603 Wise me..whuder [c1300 Otho woder] ich mæi liðan. γ. Old English hwæder, Middle English whader (?). c1000 Ælfric Genesis xxxii. 17 (Laud Misc. 509, lf. 23) Gif..he eow axie, hwæs ge sin[d] oððe hwæder [v.r. hwyder] ge willon.c1000 Ælfric Genesis xxxvii. 30 (ib. lf. 25 b) Nys se cnapa her; hwæder ga ic?c1000 West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Corpus Cambr.) viii. 19 Ic fylige þe, swa hwæder [v.r. hwyder] swa þu færst.c1400 Rom. Rose 1874 (Glasgow MS.) I rought of deth ne of lyf Whader that loue wolde me dryf. δ. Middle English queder, Middle English quedire, Middle English quedur, Middle English queþer, Middle English queþir, Middle English quhether (Scottish), Middle English qweder, Middle English qweþir (Scottish), Middle English qwhedyr (Scottish), Middle English qwheþir (Scottish), Middle English weder, Middle English whedder, Middle English wheder, Middle English whedir, Middle English whedire, Middle English whedur, Middle English whedyr, Middle English whedyre, Middle English wheither, Middle English wheþer, Middle English whethir, Middle English whethyr, Middle English–1500s wether, Middle English–1700s whether, 1500s quhethire (Scottish), 1600s wheather. a1300 Harrow. Hell (O.) 110 I ne recche weder I go.13.. Northern Passion (Harl.) 750 He spird..Wheder þai war went.a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 6359 Queder-sum he welk her or þare, þis wandes euer he wit him bare.a1400–50 Wars Alex. 3499 Pas quedire as him plese.c1440 Gesta Romanorum xxiii. 81 I wote not..whether to go.1471 M. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 354 We wut not qweder to fle. ▸ ?a1500 R. Henryson tr. Æsop Fables: Fox, Wolf, & Husbandman l. 2259 in Poems (1981) 85 The volff said, ‘Quhether dryuis thou this pray?’1589 T. Nashe Anat. Absurditie sig. Eiii^v Whether euery way leadeth.1639 in F. P. Verney & M. M. Verney Mem. Verney Family 17th Cent. (1907) I. 95 I am newly come out of Scottland, wheather I am instantly returning again.1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis x, in tr. Virgil Wks. 513 Whether wou'd you run?1722 D. Defoe Jrnl. Plague Year 202 In Heaven, whether, I hope we may come. ε. Middle English ȝwodere, Middle English hoder, Middle English hodere, Middle English wheoder, Middle English whoder, Middle English whodere, Middle English whodir, Middle English whodur, Middle English whodyr, Middle English woder, 1500s whother. c1275 Laȝamon Brut 12169 Ich wolle..wende woder þat þou wolt.c1290 St. Christopher 38 in S. Eng. Leg. 272 Ȝwodere þenxt þou gon?c1300 Beket 1648 Ynot whoder thu wolt go.c1420 Chron. Vilod. 1560 Whethen he come & hodere he went, knewe nomone.c1425 Engl. Conquest Ireland (1896) 40 Al the englysshe-men..shold ben..frely let goo whodyrso they wold.c1440 Gesta Romanorum xii. 38 Whens art þou, and whodir art þou boun?c1475 Partenay 2764 Of your wif enquere..at no day..To what place she torn ne hoder wyll go.1535 G. Joye Apol. Tindale sig. C.ij The bodye must nedis folow the head, & whother the head went thither must the bodye folow. Etymology: Old English hwider , earlier (Northumbrian) huidir , later hwyder , < Germanic χwi- (compare which adj. and pron.); the synonymous Gothic hwadrē is < Germanic χwa- (see who pron. and n.). Late and occasional Old English hwæder (see A. γ) is probably due to the analogy of þæder thither v. Now, in all senses, only archaic or literary; replaced in ordinary use by where, or colloquial where…to: see where adv. and conj. 2, Phrases 2 (Cf. whence adv. and conj. I.) I. Interrogative uses. 1. To what place? a. (a) in direct questions. ΚΠ c1000 Ælfric Deut. i. 28 Hwider fare we? c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 147 Ac wider ȝeden hie? 13.. Bonaventura's Medit. 995 Whedyr shulde y wende, to frende, ouþer kyn? 1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur vii. v. 219 Ther came a man fleynge..whether wolt thou sayd Beaumayns. a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) iv. i. 17 Whether trauell you? View more context for this quotation 1649 C. Wase tr. Sophocles Electra 15 Whither away? 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis x, in tr. Virgil Wks. 526 Whence am I forc'd, and whether am I born..? 1722 D. Defoe Jrnl. Plague Year 143 Whither will you go? and what can you do? 1836 C. Dickens Sketches by Boz 1st Ser. II. 241 ‘Whither are we going?’ inquired the lady tragically. 1848 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair lxiii. 571 What was the use of cavalry in a time of profound peace?—and whither the deuce should the hussars ride? 1883 J. Gilmour Among Mongols xvii. 202 If souls do not transmigrate, where do they come from at birth, whither do they go at death? †(b) humorous phr. (as n.). Obsolete. ΚΠ 1678 J. Ray Coll. Eng. Prov. (ed. 2) 346 How doth your whither goe you? (your wife). 1721 E. Ward Northern Cuckold 7 Not that our Northern Cuckold's Whither D'ye go, is such a Doxy neither. 1725 New Canting Dict. Whither-D'ye-go, an insolent prescribing Wife. b. in indirect questions and similar clauses. ΘΚΠ the world > space > direction > [adverb] > to or towards some thing or place > to or towards what place or direction whither971 whereOE whereforthc1290 wheretoa1300 wherebya1450 where…to?1768 wheretill1827 which-a-way1909 971 Blickl. Hom. 151 Hie..nystan hwyder hie eodan. 971 Blickl. Hom. 229 Hie sendon hlot him betweonum hwider hyra gehwylc faran scolde to læranne. c1200 Vices & Virtues 17 Þe inreste þesternesse is in ðare hierte ðe ne wile forsceawin hwider he scal ðanne he henen farð. c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 159 Lusteð nu..hwo hire ledde, and wu and hwider. c1290 St. Matthew 140 in S. Eng. Leg. 81 Nou god it wot and seint Matheu ȝwodere is soule wende. 1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 2144 Hii nuste wuder drawe. a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 701 It is a selcouþe, me þinkes, whider þat lady is went. c1475 (?c1425) Avowing of King Arthur (1984) l. 392 Þe blonke him aboute bore, Wiste he neuyr quedur. 1509 S. Hawes Pastime of Pleasure (1845) xxxiv. 170 She..did aske me whether That I so rode, and what I would have? 1589 T. Nashe Anat. Absurditie sig. Eiii^v Wee duely consider, whether euery way leadeth. 1660 in E. Nicholas Nicholas Papers (1920) IV. 216 Intimating that Alison was now gonne hee knew not whither. 1722 D. Defoe Jrnl. Plague Year 65 If he knew whether to go. 1841 C. Dickens Old Curiosity Shop i. xii. 156 Wandering they knew not whither. 1882 W. Besant All Sorts of Men II. xxiii. 136 What he did, whither he went, where he died, might be left to conjecture. 2. a. gen. or figurative with various shades of meaning: To what result, condition, action, subject, cause, etc.? †to what extent, how far? ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > causation > effect, result, or consequence > [adverb] > to what result? whither9.. 9.. Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. xl. (MS. Cott.) Hwæðer ðu nu ongite hwider þios spræce wille? a1225 Leg. Kath. 1299 Hwider is ower wit & ower wisdom iwent? c1450 Jacob's Well (1900) 236 Whedir schal þi soule in þin ende, to peyne or ioye? 1493 Chastysing Goddes Chyldern (de Worde) iv. sig. Aiv^v/1 Wheder is all this become. a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 143 Wel master lup. I perceyve wether you go [= ‘what you are driving at’]. 1611 B. Jonson Catiline iv. sig. I3 Whither at length wilt thou abuse our patience? [L. Quousque tandem..] . View more context for this quotation 1625 C. Burges New Discouery Personal Tithes 31 Suspecting whether he may be drawne by yeelding that to be a Due. a1656 Bp. J. Hall Invisible World (1659) i. iv. 25 If there fall out..any direfull prodigies..whither should they be imputed but to these mighty Angels? a1674 Earl of Clarendon Brief View Leviathan (1676) 153 If they had known whether to have addressed their complaints. 1746 P. Francis & W. Dunkin tr. Horace Satires ii. vii. 29 Thou tedious varlet, whither tends This putrid stuff? 1820 P. B. Shelley Prometheus Unbound iii. iv. 117 Whither has wandered now my partial tongue? 1851 C. Kingsley Yeast x Oh, Lancelot, Lancelot, whither are you forcing me? b. Followed by a single word or short phrase. ΚΠ 1982 Eng. Stud. 65 90 The recently recycled interrogative adverb whither (as in Whither Democracy?). II. Relative uses. 3. a. as nominal relative: To the place to (or in) which. Also with correlative thither. Also figurative. ΘΚΠ the world > space > direction > [adverb] > to or towards some thing or place > to or towards which place or direction thitherc897 whitherc950 whereto1340 wheretill1423 whereunto1490 whereupon1560 whereof1659 c950 Lindisf. Gosp. John xxi. 18 Ambulabas ubi uolebas, Ðu waldes geonga huidir ðu waldes. c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) John viii. 21 Whidur I go, ȝe mown not come. ?1473 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre Recuyell Hist. Troye (1894) II. lf. 341 To goo, whyther the goddes wold consente that they shold dwelle. 1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection ii. sig. Hv^v Prouide suche money that may bryng hym whether he entendeth. 1535 G. Joye Apol. Tindale sig. C.ij The bodye must nedis folow the head, & whother the head went thither must the bodye folow. 1561 J. Daus tr. H. Bullinger Hundred Serm. vpon Apocalips xxxvii. 237 Away with them and their sophistrie, whither they are worthie. 1682 N. O. tr. N. Boileau-Despréaux Lutrin ii. 19 Then whether Honour calls thee, bravely follow. 1836 J. Gilbert Christian Atonem. 446 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. ΚΠ a1400 Morte Arth. 3231 I ne wiste no waye whedire þat I scholde. c1475 (?c1400) Apol. Lollard Doctr. (1842) 31 He assignid seuenty and two disciplis, and sent hem..in to ilk place and cite widir he was to com. 1549 Bk. Common Prayer (STC 16267) Celebr. Holye Communion f. lxviii Exalte vs vnto the same place whither our sauiour Christe is gone before. 1609 Bible (Douay) I. Deut. xix. 3 He which..is a fugitive, may have..whither to escape. 1617 F. Moryson Itinerary i. 42 Wee landed..in Freesland, at the Village Anion,..whether wee hired a sledge..and were drawne thither ouer the yce and snow. 1664 H. Power Exper. Philos. i. 68 The sense and motion of that part whither that Nerve was propagated. 1722 D. Defoe Jrnl. Plague Year 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. 1822 P. B. Shelley Hellas 43 I come Thence whither thou must go. 1825 W. Scott Jrnl. 28 Nov. (1939) 21 Dined at Melville Castle, whither I went through a snow-storm. 1893 M. Pemberton Iron Pirate i At Cowes, whither I had taken my yacht..for the Regatta Week. 4. In generalized or indefinite sense: To (or in) any place to which; to whatever place; whithersoever.Esp. with addition of †as, †that, †ever, so(ever): see also whitherso adv., whithersoever adv. ΚΠ c1275 Laȝamon Brut 12169 Ich wolle..wende woder þat þou wolt. 1340 Ayenbite (1866) 235 Uor to uolȝy þe lamb of mildenesse huyder hit geþ to huam hi byeþ y-spoused. c1380 J. Wyclif Sel. Wks. II. 17 Þe Holi Gost ledde Jesus whidir ever he wente, and what dedis evere he dide. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 10812 Forto help hir in hir nede, Quider þat [Gött. Queþer-sua, Trin. Cambr. Whoder so; c1460 Laud Whethir so] sco rade or yede. c1400 tr. Aelred of Rievaulx De Institutione Inclusarum (Vernon) (1984) 42 Ȝif þu folwe þis blessed mayde whider þat euer sche goþ. c1440 Alphabet of Tales 53 Whider as euer he went, or what thyng som evur he did, he was evur sayand Ave Maria. c1450 Two Cookery-bks. 101 Cary him wheþer euer þou wolt. 1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. ccccxlvi. 318 b/2 I haue hyred this shyppe..to sayle whyder as me lyst. 1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 v. iii. 22 Goe with thy soule whither it goes. View more context for this quotation 1648 J. Beaumont Psyche vii. cviii. 104 Whether as He mounted up, the News He tells To every Orb and Star. a1672 Bp. J. Wilkins Of Princ. Nat. Relig. (1675) i. xvii. 241 We should..follow whither ever he shall lead us. 1722 D. Defoe Jrnl. Plague Year 170 They were at Liberty to travel whither they pleased. 1873 R. Browning Red Cotton Night-cap Country iii. 157 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 adv., everywhither adv., nowhither adv., owhither adv., somewhither adv. 6. as n. (nonce-use.) Place or state to which a person or thing moves or tends. (Cf. whence adv. and conj. 5.) ΘΚΠ the world > space > place > [noun] > to which something tends whither1875 1875 E. White Life in Christ (1878) i. iv. 30 Uncertain as to the Whence and Whither of humanity. 1896 A. Austin England's Darling i. i He roams abroad..Spying the where and whither of his foes. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1924; most recently modified version published online December 2021). < n.¹?a1505v.c1450adv.n.²9..
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whithern.1

whitherv.

Derivatives

whitheradv.n.2

whithern.¹

whitheradv.n.²