When to Whet
When
(When) adv. [OE. when, whan, whenne, whanne, AS. hwænne, hwanne, hwonne; akin to OS.
hwan, OD. wan, OHG. wanne, G. wann when, wenn if, when, Goth. hwan when, and to E. who. .
See Who.]
1. At what time; — used interrogatively.
When shall these things be?
Matt. xxiv. 3. See the Note under What, pron., 1.
2. At what time; at, during, or after the time that; at or just after, the moment that; — used relatively.
Kings may
Take their advantage when and how they list.
Daniel.
Book lore ne'er served, when trial came,
Nor gifts, when faith was dead.
J. H. Newman. 3. While; whereas; although; — used in the manner of a conjunction to introduce a dependent adverbial
sentence or clause, having a causal, conditional, or adversative relation to the principal proposition; as,
he chose to turn highwayman when he might have continued an honest man; he removed the tree when
it was the best in the grounds.
4. Which time; then; — used elliptically as a noun.
I was adopted heir by his consent;
Since when, his oath is broke.
Shak. When was formerly used as an exclamation of surprise or impatience, like what!
Come hither; mend my ruff:
Here, when! thou art such a tedious lady!
J. Webster. When as, When that, at the time that; when. [Obs.]
When as sacred light began to dawn.
Milton.
When that mine eye is famished for a look.
Shak. Whenas
(When"as`) conj. Whereas; while [Obs.]
Whenas, if they would inquire into themselves, they would find no such matter.
Barrow. Whence
(Whence) adv. [OE. whennes, whens (with adverbial s, properly a genitive ending; — see -
wards), also whenne, whanene, AS. hwanan, hwanon, hwonan, hwanone; akin to D. when. See
When, and cf. Hence, Thence.]
1. From what place; hence, from what or which source, origin, antecedent, premise, or the like; how; —
used interrogatively.
Whence hath this man this wisdom?
Matt. xiii. 54.
Whence and what art thou?
Milton. 2. From what or which place, source, material, cause, etc.; the place, source, etc., from which; — used
relatively.
Grateful to acknowledge whence his good
Descends.
Milton.
