Where

adv. and conj. Forms: α. 1–2 hwær, (1 huoer, hwoer, wær, uer), 1–3 hwer, 1–4 huer, (3 whær(e, wær), 3–5 wer, 3–6 wher, 4 hwere, 4–6 were, 6 whear, Sc. vher, 6–7 wheare, 7 (9 dial.) wheer, 4– where; Sc. and north. dial. 3–5 quer, 4–5 quere, 5 qwer(e, qwher, 6 quheir, 7 quher(e. β. 1–3 hwar, (1 hwara), 2–4 war, (3 wahr, ȝwar, ȝware), 3–5 ware, (8 Sc.) whare, (8–9 Sc.) whar, 4 hware, 5 whaire, 6–7 vhair, (9 Sc.) whair, 9 Sc. whaur; Sc. and north. dial. 3–4 quar, 4–5 quare, 4–6 quhar, quhare, 5 qwar, qware, qwhar, qwhare; 5–6 quair, 5–8 quhair, 6–7 quhaire. γ. 3 wor, quor, quuor, 4 hwore, quore, 4–5 whore, 5 whor. δ. n. e. Sc. 6 for, 9 faur (Irish far). [OE. hwǽr, hwár, corresp. to OFris. hwêr, OS. hwâr (MLG. wâr, LG. waar, woor, MDu., Du. waar), OHG. (h)wâr, wâ, MHG. wâ, G. wo (wâr surviving in G. warum). A disyllabic OE. form hwára (ME. whǫre) also existed; cf. þára there. Forms with short vowel appear in OE. hwar, hwara, (ME. whar, whare), OS. hwar, OHG. wara, MHG. ware, war whither, ON. hvar (Sw. var, Da. hvor), Goth. hwar where.

  Derived from the interrog. stem χwa-, as HERE is from χi- HE, and THERE from þa-; cf. Lith. kur where, L. cūr (:—*quōr) why, Skr. kár-hi when.]

  I.  Interrogative uses.

  In dependent clauses formerly sometimes followed by that: see THAT conj. 6. For the distinction between the dependent interrogative and the relative use, cf. WHAT A. I.**

  1.  In or at what place (region, country, etc.)? a. in direct questions.

c. 825.  Vesp. Psalter, xli. 4 [xlii. 3]. Hwer is god ðin?

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Gen. iii. 9. God … cwæð: Adam, hwar eart þu?

a. 1175.  Cott. Hom., 241. Þis is hare bread, hwer scule we win finden?

c. 1200.  Ormin, 12734. Lef maȝȝstre, whære biggesst tu?

c. 1205.  Lay., 4454. Wher beo ȝe mine cnihtes, whar beo ȝe mine kempen?

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 356. Ðu, nu, quor art, adam, adam? Ibid., 1311. Quar sal ben taken Ðe offrende ðat ðu wilt maken?

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 1123. Caym ware es þi broiþer abell?

1382.  Wyclif, Gen. iii. 9. The Lord God clepide Adam, and seide to hym, Where art thow?

a. 1400–50.  Wars Alex., 683. Quat sterne is it at ȝe stody on, quare stekis it in heuyn?

1456.  Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 6. The secounde questioun that is to say quhare was bataill first fundyn.

c. 1460.  Towneley Myst., xiii. 402. Primus pastor. Bot I will go before, let vs mete. ijus pastor. whore? iijus pastor. At the crokyd thorne.

a. 1600.  Montgomerie, Sonn., lvi. 13. Vhair go they then?

1637.  Milton, Lycidas, 50. Where were ye Nymphs when the remorseless deep Clos’d o’re the head of your lov’d Lycidas?

1779.  Warner, in Jesse, Selwyn & Contemp. (1844), IV. 285. I have been preaching this morning, and am going to dine,—where?—in the afternoon.

1838.  P. Egan, Pilgr. Thames, 259. The windows, too, secured by strong iron bars—exclaimed, ‘where the deuce am I?’

1848.  Dickens, Dombey, xxvi. My dearest Edith,… where on earth have you been?

1896.  Barrie, Sent. Tommy, iii. 34. Whaur heard you that name?

  b.  in dependent clauses.

c. 893.  K. Ælfred, Oros., IV. x. § 3. Ʒesecgað me nu Romane, cwæð Orosius, hwonne þæt ʓewurde oþþe hwara [etc.].

971.  Blickl. Hom., 241. Þine stefne ic ʓehiere, ac ic ne wat hwær þu eart.

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 143. Ȝe hereð, ware heo com to ure helende.

a. 1240.  Ureisun, 106, in O. E. Hom., I. 197. Ful wel þu me iseie … Hwar ich was and hwat i dude.

c. 1290.  S. Eng. Leg., 10/325. He wuste ȝware þe rode lai.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 157. Hit sal be reddynn þanne … How he was born and quen and ware [v.rr. quare, whare]. Ibid., 17288 + 223. Þai haf taken my lord,… and doyne him Ine wote whore.

13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., A. 65. I ne wyste in þis worlde quere þat hit wace.

1461.  Paston Lett., II. 17. I have knowelege quere the shippyng chall be.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, X. lvii. 511. Yet wold not sire Launcelot telle me certeynte of you where I shold fynde yow.

1573–80.  Tusser, Husb. (1878), 117. Where hops will growe, here learne to knowe.

1645.  in Spalding Club Misc., I. 56. Ye will certanly knaw whair to find ws with the Regiementis.

1648.  Cromwell, Lett. to T. Saunders, 17 June, in Carlyle. You may send to Colonel Herbert,… who will certainly acquaint you where he is.

1724.  Ramsay, Vision, vii. I … Speird, quhair he had been sae lang?

1784.  Cowper, Ep. to J. Hill, 47. An emp’ror, a wise man—No matter where, in China or Japan.

1822.  Scott, Nigel, iii. You did not tell him where I lived, you knave?

1860.  Dickens, Uncomm. Trav., ii. Little does it signify to us, when the soul has departed, where this poor body lies.

1882.  Besant, All Sorts, xv. You come from no one knows where; you live no one knows how.

  (b)  In dependence on an int. or vb. of looking: Lo, see, look, behold where (he comes) = Here or there (he comes)! arch.

c. 1205.  Lay., 5029. Leo wær here þa wombe þe þu læie inne swa longe.

c. 1420.  Chron. Vilod., 3117. Lowe where is a lomb! a fayre whyte lomb! lo! lo!

1591.  Shaks., Two Gent., V. i. 7. See where she comes. Ibid. (1593), 3 Hen. VI., I. i. 50. My Lords, looke where the sturdie Rebell sits. Ibid. (1605), Macb., V. viii. 55. Behold where stands Th’ Vsurpers cursed head.

1681.  Dryden, Abs. & Achit., II. 1125. See where the Princely Barque in loosest Pride, With all her Guardian Fleet, Adorns the Tide!

1742.  Gray, Spring, i. Lo! where the rosy-bosom’d Hours, Fair Venus’ train, appear.

1839.  Hood, Quakers’ Conversaz., II. 29. Lo! where the Soldier walks, alas! With Scars received on foreign Grounds.

  c.  colloq. with from or to at the end of the sentence or clause: where … from? = whence? where … to? = whither?

1760–72.  H. Brooke, Fool of Qual. (1809), II. 103. I must go suddenly, but where to?

1835.  Dickens, Sk. Boz, Parish, iii. Where on earth the husband came from.

1914.  ‘Ian Hay,’ Knt. on Wheels, xiii. Where do these brats hail from?

  2.  In general and fig. senses: In what position, situation or circumstances? at what point or stage (of action, speech or thought)? in what passage or part (of a writing)? in what particular? in what respect? in what? also (contextually, with get, etc.) from what source?

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 8. Askeð him, Hwat beo ordre, & hwar he ifinde in holi write religiun openluker descriued … þen in sein Iames canoniei epistle?

a. 1250.  Owl & Night., 892. & þan sunfulle ic helpe al so Vor ic him teche hwar is wo.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 2800. Godd … Þat made þat sinful folk sa madd, Þat þai ne wist war þai war stad.

c. 1450.  Mirk’s Festial, 4. Hys angyll … tellyng hym redely wher and how oft he haþe don amys.

1531.  Elyot, Gov., I. xiii. (1883), I. 131. In defendynge of oratours and poetes I had all moste forgoten where I was.

1599.  Shaks., Hen. V., III. v. 15. Where haue they this mettell? Is not their Clymate foggy, raw, and dull? Ibid. (1600), A. Y. L., V. ii. 32. O, I know where you are.

1641.  Milton, Ch. Govt., I. vii. 28. If there were no opposition where were the triall of an unfained goodnesse and magnanimity?

1728.  Law, Serious C., ix. You must not deceive yourself with saying, Where can be the harm of clothes?

1847.  C. Brontë, Jane Eyre, xxxii. ‘But where is the use of going on,’ I asked.

1882.  Besant, All Sorts, xxii. ‘I see,’ said Angela. ‘You were attracted by the ancient inscriptions?’
  ‘Naturally; without inscriptions, where are you?’

1908.  R. Bagot, A. Cuthbert, v. 47. That is all very well; but where do I come in?

  3.  To what place? Now, in ordinary use, taking the place of WHITHER; cf. HERE adv. 7, THERE 8. (Formerly freq. with BECOME, q.v. 1 b.)

c. 1000.  Wanderer, 92. Hwær cwom mearʓ? hwær cwom maʓo?

c. 1205.  Lay., 21913. Wær scullen we bicumen?

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 13748. Quar ar þai cummen, þin wiþerwins þat þe had nummen?

1303.  R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 7492. Þat þrostel sagh he no more; Hyt become, he ne wyst whore.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. Prol. 166. Were þere a belle on here þeiȝ…. Men myȝte wite where þei went and awei renne!

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, XXI. iv. 846. Where are al my noble knyghtes becomen?

1587.  Harrison, England, I. xi. 47/1, in Holinshed. Whose eies are so blinded with the thicknesse of that element, that they cannot see where to become.

1590.  Shaks., Mids. N., III. i. 166. Where shall we go? Ibid. (1611), Wint. T., IV. iv. 304. Aut. Get you hence, for I must goe Where it fits not you to know. Dor. Whether?

a. 1708.  T. Ward, Eng. Ref., I. (1710), 86. His Soul departed, God knows where.

1730.  A. Gordon, Maffei’s Amphith., 289. We shall now mention where every one of those Entries … lead.

1809.  Malkin, Gil Blas, III. iii. ¶ 8. Unconscionable dogs! Where do they expect to go when they die?

1860.  Dickens, Uncomm. Trav., iii. Who departed this life I don’t know when, and whose coaches are all gone I don’t know where.

  4.  In rhetorical questions having the effect of emphatic negations (cf. WHAT A. 3): e.g., where is —? implying or suggesting ‘— has vanished’ or ‘there is no — anywhere’; where not = everywhere (cf. WHAT NOT).

c. 888.  Ælfred, Boeth., xix. Hwær synt nu þæs Welondes ban, oððe hwa wat nu hwær hi wæron?

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Luke viii. 25. Ða cwæþ se hælend, hwar is eower ʓeleafa?

c. 1300.  Havelok, 1083. Hwere mithe i finden ani so hey So hauelok is, or so sley?

c. 1430.  Hymns Virgin (1867), 86. Where is bicomc cesar, þat lorde was of al?

c. 1520.  Skelton, Magnyf., 2055. Where is nowe my Welth and my noble estate?

1567.  Satir. Poems Reform., iv. 174. Quhair sall men find steidfast Stabilnes?

1600.  W. Watson, Decacordon (1602), 34. All went to wracke in England, Scotland, Flanders, Germanie, Polony, and where not.

1709.  Prior, Henry & Emma, 282. And where is Emma’s Joy, if Henry flies?

1842.  Mrs. Trollope, Vis. Italy, I. iii. 49. As to pictures, where could I find foolscap enough to catalogue the multitude I have seen?

1865.  Dickens, Mut. Fr., I. v. Where would be the good of Mrs. Boffin and me quarrelling over it?

1906.  C. Bigg, Wayside Sk. Eccl. Hist., vi. 154. Where shall we find him [sc. the perfect reformer] except in the Son of Man…?

  II.  Relative and conjunctive uses.

  Formerly often followed by that (THAT conj. 6).

  * In senses referring to physical position.

  5.  as compound relative, or as correlative to there (implied and sometimes expressed; cf. WHAT C.*, WHEN 4): In or at the (or a) place in or at which; at the part at which.

[c. 950.  Lindisf. Gosp., Matt. vi. 21. Ubi enim est thesaurus tuus ibi est et cor tuum, ðer vel huer forðon is strion ðin, ðer is & hearta ðin.]

13[?].  Northern Passion, I. 138. Þei souhte anoþer where þei myhte.

1338.  R. Brunne, Chron. (1725), I. 22. Þer where he was schotte.

c. 1400.  trans. Secr. Secr., Gov. Lordsh., 89. A hors shal neuer henny whore he dwellys.

1483.  Acta Audit., in Acta Dom. Conc., II. Introd. 102. The Lordis … ordanis that letters be writin to the schireffis quhar the said landis liis.

1548–9.  [see THITHER 1 c].

1583.  Melbancke, Philotimus, E j. Wher God buildes a church, the deuill builds a chappell.

a. 1592.  Greene, Orpharion, Wks. (Grosart), XII. 33. Where the sea is most deepe, there it is most calme.

1639.  J. Clarke, Parœm., 48. He is where he would be.

1779.  Cowper, A Tale, ‘Where Humber.’ Where Humber pours his rich commercial stream, There dwelt a wretch, who breath’d but to blaspheme.

1810.  Crabbe, Borough, ii. 45. Where the common eye Can but the bare and rocky bed descry, There Science loves to trace her tribes minute.

1859.  Ruskin, Two Paths, i. § 2. Inverness, placed where it might ennoble one of the sweetest landscapes.

1893.  Max Pemberton, Iron Pirate, iv. I shall stay where I am.

  b.  To the (or a) place in or at which (= thither where).

[c. 950.  Lindisf. Gosp., John xi. 32. Cum uenisset ubi erat iesus, Miððy cuome ðer vel huoer uæs se hælend.]

c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, i. (Petrus), 100. To þe prince sa spak he þane, Þat quhare petire wes, he wane.

a. 1500.  Hist. K. Boccus & Sydracke (? 1510), N j. They fare as a lefe on the tre That turnes whare the wynd wylbe.

c. 1586.  C’tess Pembroke, Ps. LXXXIV. iii. Me seemes I see them going Where mulberies are growing.

1671.  Milton, P. R., III. 244. I will bring thee where thou soon shalt quit Those rudiments.

1697.  Dryden, Æneis, XI. 44. He took his Way, Where, new in Death, lamented Pallas lay.

Mod.  I’ll take you where we shall get a better view.

  6.  Introducing a clause as obj. of a verb or prep., or as predicate: = a or the place in (or to) which.

  Originating in, and not always distinguishable from, the use in indirect questions (1 b).

[c. 950.  Lindisf. Gosp., Matt. viii. 20. Filius … hominis non habet ubi caput reclinet, Sunu … monnes ne hæfis huer [Rushw. wær] heafud ʓehlutes; 1382 Wyclif but mannes sone hath nat wher he reste his heued.]

c. 1200.  Ormin, 12985. Þeȝȝ tokenn þær to fraȝȝnenn Crist Off whære he wass att hame.

1579.  W. Wilkinson, Confut. Fam. Love, Brief Descr. Not hauyng where they durst at any tyme rest.

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., III. iii. 27. From where the day out of the sea doth spring, Vntill the closure of the Euening.

1613.  Purchas, Pilgrimage, II. xvii. 170. The Iewes will not quite empty any place of water, that on the Sabbath these fierie soules may finde where to coole them.

1766.  Goldsm., Vicar W., v. Within about twenty paces of where we were sitting. Ibid. (1766), Hermit, 3. And guide my lonely way To where yon taper cheers the vale With hospitable ray.

1876.  Tennyson, Harold, V. i. I can see it From where we stand.

1882.  Besant, All Sorts, iv. (1898), 42. He … showed her where the liquor stood to ferment.

  7.  as simple relative. a. With antecedent place, or some sb. denoting a place or receptacle; introducing a defining or restrictive clause completing the sense: In or at which.

c. 1250.  Kent. Serm., in O. E. Misc., 27. Al-wat hi kam over þo huse war ure louerd was.

1390.  Gower, Conf., III. 324. He bad his man to gon and spire A place wher sche myhte abyde.

c. 1400.  Rule St. Benet (verse), 1666. And honest place for to be in, Whor þai may sit with-outyn dyn.

1457.  Test. Ebor. (Surtees), II. 207. Att Saynt Nicholas auter before the stall quer I sitt at mese.

1539.  in Extr. Aberd. Reg. (1844), I. 159. I sell leid the to the place for the freir swewyt the.

1567.  Sc. Acts Jas. VI. (1814), III. 23/2. The Superintendent, and Ministeris of that Prouince quhair the benefice lyis.

a. 1600.  Montgomerie, Sonn., xlviii. 2. In hauthornes vher thou hyds thy self and hants.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 752. Th’ unhappy Climes, where Spring was never known.

1788.  Picken, Poems, 27. At yon burnie … Whar the shinan peebles lie.

1835.  Marryat, Jacob Faithful, xlv. I hastened to the black hole where Tom was confined.

1893.  Max Pemberton, Iron Pirate, iii. Looking for all the world like some great dog that has entered a house where dogs are forbidden.

  b.  Introducing an additional statement, the sense being complete without the relative clause: In or at which place; and there.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 950. Vnto þe wreched werld to gang, Quare þou sal thinc þou liues to lang.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, I. 354. To Sanct Androws he come … Quhar the byschop … Resavyt him.

c. 1420.  Anturs Arth., xxxvii. By þat on plumtone land a palais was piȝte, Were neuer freke opone folde had fouȝtene biforne.

1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 5 b. They probacyon in deserte, where god proued theyr fayth and hope.

a. 1586.  Montgomerie, Misc. Poems, xlviii. 222. Then to the Douns, vhair that we raid a space.

1632.  Milton, L’Allegro, 72. Russet Lawns, and Fallows Gray, Where the nibling flocks do stray.

1766.  Goldsm., Vicar W., xiv. We were shewn into a little back room, where there was only a venerable old man.

1820.  Keats, Lamia, I. 380. A pillar’d porch … Where hung a silver lamp.

1882.  Besant, All Sorts, xxviii. I have been in America, where, if anywhere, the people have it their own way.

  8.  as compound or simple relative: (In, or to, the place) to which; whither.

13[?].  Cursor M., 1154 (Gött.). Wid all þu sal biholden vile, Quar þu wendis in exile.

1508.  Reg. Privy Seal Scot., I. 250/2. Quhether the saidis P. and J. pass in the realme of France or uther partis quhare ples thaim.

1594.  Shaks., Rich. III., I. ii. 106. He is in heauen, where thou shalt neuer come.

1655.  in Nicholas Papers (Camden), III. 209. A letter … which … hee vndertooke to transmitt where it was directed.

1774.  Chesterf., Lett., I. i. 2. Holland, where you are going, is, by far, the finest … of the Seven United Provinces.

1852.  Mrs. Stowe, Uncle Tom’s C., xxvi. Tom … looked up for help where he had always been used to look.

1893.  Max Pemberton, Iron Pirate, i. Him I am going to meet in this Paris where I go without aim.

  9.  In generalized or indef. sense: In, or to, any (or every) place in, or to, which; wherever.

  The indef. sense is more explicitly expressed by the addition of ever, so, † sum: see WHEREVER, WHERESO, WHERESOME, WHERESOMEVER.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 5904. Whære o lande summ itt iss Þatt mann off Goddspell spelleþþ.

c. 1205.  Lay., 3320. Lete we sum þis mochele folc fare wher [later text woder] ha wulleð.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 6617. Euere ware he com gode lawes he broȝte.

13[?].  Cursor M., 6136 (Gött.). Mas sacrifis ȝour lauerd vntill, Quar and hou so þat ȝe will.

a. 1352.  Minot, Poems (ed. Hall), ix. 20. None letes him þe way to wende whore he will.

1395.  E. E. Wills, 8. Ware that euer I deye.

14[?].  in Tundale’s Vis. (1843), 99. Lett thi name wher we rydy or gon … Be owre defence ageyn owre mortal fon.

1552.  Huloet, Where you will, ubilibet.

1605.  Shaks., Lear, IV. v. 10. Where he arriues, he moues All hearts against vs.

1781.  Cowper, Table T., 298. Sing where you please.

1865.  Dickens, Mut. Fr., III. viii. I won’t stand in your way. Go where you like.

  ** In general and figurative senses.

  10.  as compound relative. a. In the passage or part (of a writing) in which; at, or to the point or stage (of action, speech, etc.) at which.

c. 1400.  Rule St. Benet (verse), 206. In his godspel, whaire he says þus: ‘Nolo mortem peccatoris.’

c. 1450.  Capgrave, Life St. Aug., Prol. In þe first capitle Ad Romanos, where he saide þat he was dettour on-to wise men and onwise.

1580.  R. Parsons, Brief Disc., 40. Throughe out the scripture, where Idoles are forbidden, they translate it Images.

1622.  Peacham, Compl. Gent., xi. 97. But we returne where we left.

1661.  in Extr. St. Papers rel. Friends, Ser. II. (1911), 126. I marked the booke where there is a passage full of treason.

1907.  Blackw. Mag., Jan., 136/2. Where Powell parted company most fiercely from the Radicals was in his steadfast patriotism.

  b.  In a or the case in which (often nearly = WHEN 8); in the circumstances, position, or condition in which; in that respect or particular in which. (Sometimes with implication of contrast or opposition: cf. 12 b.)

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), V. 227. Were þe socour of the watir faillede þere men schulde derende hem in þe lond by help of þe wal.

c. 1420.  ? Lydg., Assembly of Gods, 1634. He wold deele where he had no charge.

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, IV. Prol. 199. Quhar schame is lost quyte schent is womanheid.

1591.  Shaks., Two Gent., V. iv. 44. When women cannot loue, where they’re belou’d.

1635.  Quarles, Embl., I. xii. Ther’s nothing wholsome, where the whole’s infected.

1766.  Fordyce, Serm. Yng. Women (1767), I. v. 192. We cannot be easy, where we are not safe.

1824.  Scott, St. Ronan’s, xxii. ‘By my soul, Clara, I will make you repent this!’ said Mowbray, with more violence than he usually exhibited where his sister was concerned.

1850.  Newman, Diff. Anglicans, ix. 221. They are rude where they should be reverent.

1918.  Act 8 Geo. V., c. 5 § 1 (1). Where it is proposed to make any such Order … a draft of the Order shall be presented to each House of Parliament.

  (b)  Contextually indicating a person or persons as the object of love or marriage.

1611.  Beaum. & Fl., King & No K., III. i. O she is far from any stubbornness,… and no doubt will like Where you would have her.

1859.  Geo. Eliot, Adam Bede, I. iv. Thee know’st We canna love just where other folks ’ud have us.

1878.  Hardy, Ret. Native, I. iv. I saw that … it would be better she should marry where she wished.

  c.  with construction as in 6: = † a case in which; † a person to whom; the point or particular in which. (Cf. WHEN 5.)

a. 1300.  K. Horn, 691 (Camb. MS.). Ihc herde whar he sede, & his swerd forþ leide, To bringe þe of lyue.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, XI. 39. I herd neuir quhar so lang varnyng Wes gevin.

1601.  Shaks., Jul. C., I. ii. 59. I haue heard, Where many of the best respect in Rome … Haue wish’d that Noble Brutus had his eyes. Ibid. (1611), Cymb., II. iv. 111. The Vowes of Women, Of no more bondage be, to where they are made, Then they are to their Vertues.

Mod.  That was where he failed. (colloq.) That’s just where it is!

  11.  as simple relative. a. Introducing a defining or restrictive clause (cf. 7 a): In or at which; † rarely with person as antecedent, In whom.

c. 1500.  Melusine, 238. She consyderyng the daunger where bothe she & her peple had be.

1585.  Jas. VI., Ess. Poesie (Arb.), 53. Ignorants obdurde, quhair wilful errour lyis.

1593.  Shaks., Rich. II., V. ii. 5. York. Where did I leaue? Duch. At that sad stoppe, my Lord, Where rude misgouern’d hands … Threw dust … on King Richards head.

1692.  Dryden, St. Euremont’s Ess., 98. There is no life so regular, where particular Actions don’t sometimes exceed the general habit and conduct.

1792.  Jrnl. Ho. Comm., XLVII. 641/1. In a Case where the Officers had broken into a Bedchamber.

1887.  W. P. Frith, Autobiogr., I. xxi. 284. It is difficult to put one’s finger on the precise spot where confidence merges into conceit.

  b.  Introducing an additional statement (cf. 7 b): In or at which; and there; hence, † whereupon, and then.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. V. 283. Who so leueth nouȝte þis be soth loke in þe sauter glose, In miserere mei deus, where I mene treuthe.

1423.  James I., Kingis Q., lxi. With that anon ryght sche toke vp a sang, Quhare come anon mo birdis and alight.

1591.  Shaks., Two Gent., I. i. 29. To be in loue; where scorne is bought with grones.

1634.  Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 67. The Agent for the English Merchants inuited vs to a Banquet, where he showed a heartie Entertainment.

1694.  trans. Marten’s Voy. Spitzbergen, in Acc. Sev. Late Voy., II. 128. The Seamen let them alone until the Whale be killed, where they take him without any trouble.

1781.  Cowper, Truth, 372. The controversial field, Where deists, always foil’d, yet scorn to yield.

1831.  Scott, Kenilw., Introd. The Yorkshire Tragedy, a play erroneously ascribed to Shakspeare, where a Rake … throws his wife down stairs.

  12.  † a. It being the case that; in view of the fact that; forasmuch as, inasmuch as: = WHEREAS 2; cf. WHEN 9 a. (Chiefly in legal or other formal documents.) Obs.

1411.  Rolls of Parlt., III. 650/1. First, where the forsaid Lord the Roos … compleyneth hym by a Bille, surmettyng on the same Robert [etc.].

c. 1450.  Godstow Reg., 25. Women of relygyone, in redynge bokys of latyn, byn excusyd of grete vndurstondyng, where it is not her modyr tonge.

1548–9.  (Mar.) Bk. Com. Prayer, Pref. And where heretofore, there hath been great diuersitie … within this realme: Now from henceforth, [etc.].

1562–3.  N. C. Wills (Surtees), II. 36. Where that … Hadoile the smythe hathe gyven to me his eldest sonne Christopher as my owne, I will he be put unto the schoale.

1599.  in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 336. Where it is considered by the Maior, Sheriffs, and cittizens of this citie how greatly the city is impoverished.

1637.  Bk. Com. Pr. Scot., Table & Kal. And where [1662 whereas] the Cxix. psalme is divided into xxij. portions,… it is so ordered [etc.].

  † b.  In adversative sense: While on the contrary: = WHEN 9 b, WHEREAS 3. Obs. (or merged in 10 b).

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 358. It fordoiþ Cristis privylege, þat where Cristene men shulden be free, now þei ben nedid to hire a preest.

c. 1440.  Generydes, 1134. Now A dayis I lese all that I wanne, where here before I was a threfty man.

1542.  Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 62. Purple in those dayes was for the wearyng of none but kynges & princes, wher now it is communely taken vp with euery sowter.

1596.  Edw. III., IV. iii. And, where tofore I loued thee as Villeirs, Heereafter Ile embrace thee as my selfe.

1668.  Rolle, Abridgm., Action sur Case, 40. He swore, that the Wood was worth 40s. where it was dear of 13s. 4d.

1681.  in Pepys, Diary & Corr., 11 April. All Baptist’s bases are singable, where many of Pedro’s are not so.

  III.  Indefinite and substantival uses.

  13.  With preceding qualifying words (one, other, etc.), forming adverbial phrases: In or at (one, another, etc.) place.

  Chiefly as second element in compounds: see ALLWHERE, ANYWHERE, AYWHERE, EACHWHERE, ELSEWHERE, EVERYWHERE, MANYWHERE, NOWHERE, ONEWHERE, OTHERWHERE, SOMEWHERE, WIDE-WHERE.

1508.  in Dunbar’s Poems (S.T.S.), II. 321. Suth it is, and sene in all our quhare, No erdly thing bot for a tyme may lest.

1526.  Tindale, Luke xiii. 33. For it cannot be that a prophet perisshe eny other where save att Jerusalem. Ibid. (1528), Obed. Chr. Man, 74. We must stere vp some warre one where or a nother.

c. 1550.  Syr Tryam., in Utterson, E. P. P. (1817), I. 58. They hunted and rode many a where.

c. 1586.  C’tess Pembroke, Ps. CVII. xii. How many where doth he convert Well watred grounds to thirsty sand?

1650.  Ambrose, Ultima (1659), 186. His Apostles are scattered in the garden, his garments at the Crosse, his blood how many wheres!

a. 1694.  Tillotson, Serm., VII. 108. Though they be very active, yet they can be but one where at once.

1722.  De Foe, Col. Jack, i. (1809), 10. He got victuals enough one where or other.

1815.  J. Foster, in Life & Corr. (1846), I. 453. I still preach, one where or other.

  14.  as sb. Place, locality; in mod. use esp. the place at which the thing spoken of is or happens.

1443–9.  Pecock, Donet, xvi. (1921), 92. More of þis mater … may be seen … in þe book of dyuyne office in manye a wher. Ibid. (c. 1449), Repr., I. v. 27. In othere wheris of my writingis.

1560.  Phaër, Æneid., IX. 58. He troub[l]ous vewes their wals, & ryding sekes ech entring where.

1563.  Sackville, Induct. Mirr. Mag., lxvi. In euery where or sworde or fyer they taste.

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., III. iv. 19. Finding the Nymph a sleepe in secret wheare.

1635.  J. Hayward, trans. Biondi’s Banish’d Virg., 36. Resolved to leave no where thereabouts unsearched for her.

1720.  De Foe, Ser. Refl. Crusoe, Vis. Angelic World, iv. (1801), 223. For if we are to be, we must have a where.

1813.  Byron, Corsair, I. xiv. The why—the where—what boots it now to tell?

1863.  Longf., trans. Dante, Parad., XXVII. 109. In this heaven there is no other Where Than in the Mind Divine.

1895.  A. Austin, England’s Darling, I. i. While he roams abroad,… Spying the where and whither of his foes.

  IV.  15. In senses of branches I and II, in comb. with advs. and preps.

  For history of this use see HERE adv. 16; cf. THERE 17.

  a.  With advs., as † whereforth; whereaway, whither, in what direction. b. With preps.: = what or which († occas. whom), as whereagainst, wherealong, whereamong(st, † wherenigh, whereover, whereround, † wherewithout. See also main words, WHEREABOUT to WHEREWITHAL.

1526.  Tindale, Luke xxi. 15. I will geve you a mouth and wysdom *were agaynste all youre adversarys shall not be able to speake.

1607.  Shaks., Cor., IV. v. 113. That body, where against My grained Ash an hundred times hath broke.

1622.  Mabbe, trans. Aleman’s Guzman d’Alf., I. 251. I was … driven to seeke out some Wall, where-against to leane.

1768.  Tucker, Lt. Nat., I. I. vii. 201. The organs or other channels *wherealong they pass.

1582.  Munday, Engl. Rom. Lyfe, v. 55. Reliques, *where among he named the Nayles, that nailed Christe on the Crosse.

1620.  trans. Boccaccio’s Decam., 160. Isabella fell into abundance of teares, whereamong she mingled many sigles and groanes.

1578.  Lyte, Dodoens, IV. xxviii. 485. Growing almost as high as the wheat or corne … *whereamongst it groweth.

1535.  Stewart, Cron. Scot. (Rolls), II. 637. And *quhair awa, quhither to hevin or hell.

1842.  Whistle-binkie, Ser. III. 84. He daunert on, ne’er thinkin’ whar-awa.

1867.  Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Where away? in what bearing? a question to the man at the mast-head to designate in what direction a strange sail lies.

1885.  Zadel B. Gustafson, in Harper’s Mag., Jan., 212/2.

c. 1290.  St. Cuthbert, 77, in S. Eng. Leg., 361. He ne miȝte nouȝt finde is fore, *Ȝwareforth he wende a-wei in snowe ne in þe flore.

1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. XVII. 339. Ac þorw werkes þou myght wite wher forþ he walkeþ.

1642.  Iack Puffe, 16, in Hazl., E. P. P., IV. 315. The shockt mount, whereforth a Mouse did clime.

1658.  Burton, Comm. Itin. Antoninus, 90. Our learned Antiquary therefore hath shewed very good judgement in descrying the ground, *where-nigh it stood of yore.

1475.  Bk. Noblesse (Roxb.), 72. It was never seen that any countre … did encrece welle *wherover many nedeles officers … was reignyng … over theym.

1583.  Stubbes, Anat. Abus., II. (1882), 74. Wherouer the holie Ghost hath made them ouerseers.

1853.  T. Parker, Disc. Death Webster, Wks. 1865, XII. 18. A great gulf…, whereover neither Dives nor Abraham, nor yet Moses himself, can pass.

1883.  Swinburne, Cent. Roundels, 68. Love lies bleeding in the bed whereover Roses lean.

1910.  W. A. Mackenzie, in Spectator, 4 June, 927/2.

1567.  Jewel, Def. Apol., v. xiii. 572. The conductes of Water, *wherewithout menne cannot commodiously liue.

1578.  Bk. Chr. Prayers, B ij. Thou light, wherewithout all things are deepe darcknesse.