adv. Obs. Forms: α. 4 whar hanne. β. 6 wherhens, wherhence, 6–7 where-hence, wherehence. [f. WHERE 15 + HENNE, HENCE. Cf. HEREHENCE, THEREHENCE.]
1. interrog. = WHENCE 1, 2.
c. 1400. R. Glouc., Chron. (Rolls), 7726. Wonder it was whar hanne [v.rr. wanene, whannen, whens] it com.
c. 1475. Partenay, 3383. Off norreles Anon gan hym to enquere; Wherehens he cam.
1567. Jewel, Def. Apol., III. ii. 336. Where hence haue Schismes, and Heresies spronge vp, or wherehence doo they springe, onlesse [etc.].
1584. Copie of a Letter, 78. And wherhence (I pray you) ensueth al this?
2. rel. = WHENCE 3, 4.
c. 1475. Partenay, 5489. Where-hens thay shull noght depart veryly Fro thys vnto the day of Iugement.
1548. Udall, Erasm. Par. Luke ii. 24 b. Not after the fleshe onely (wherhens in dede the begynnyng of this saluacion hath proceded).
1575. Turberv., Faulconrie, 27. But wherehence soeuer the name is deriued, this is moste assured, that of all other birds of pray, the Falcon is most excellent.
1603. J. Davies, Microcosmos, Wks. (Grosart), I. 31/2. Dust of the earth … Wherehence we came, and wherevnto we must.
1611. Coryat, Crudities, 448. This part of the country … was … inhabited by a kinde of people called Triboces,… wherehence it was called Tribocum regio.
1647. Trapp, Comm. Matt. vii. 5. God will lay them in the slimy valleyes,… wherehence also they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.
