† ˈwhethen, adv. Obs.
Forms: 3 weðen, queðen, 4 wheþin, -yn, whethene, queþen, quiþen, queiþin, queyþen, weþen, wethen, wythenne, 4–5 wheþen(e, whethen, quethen, 5 wheþon, whethyn, whythene, -yne, quethin, qu-, qwethun.
[a. ON. hvaðan (MSw. hwädhan, MDa. hvæden; f. root of who + ðan as in heðan, þeðan), with vowel-assimilation to hethen, thethen.]
= whence; and, like that word, often preceded by redundant fro (occas. of).
1. interrog. = whence 1, 2.
| c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 127 Weðen is me cumen þat mi louerdes moder cumeð to me? c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 1401 Al he tolde hem fro queðen he cam. 13.. Cursor M. 2619 (Gött.) ‘Agar,’ he said, ‘queþen comes þou, Or queþerward wil þu ga nou?’ 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 461 Neuermore þen þay wyste fram queþen he was wonnen. c 1400 Anturs Arth. xxviii, Wheþene [v.r. whythene] is þe comli kniȝte? c 1420 Chron. Vilod. 535 Þe kynge askede anone what was his name And what mon And whethen þat he wasse. |
2. rel. = whence 3.
| a 1340 Hampole Psalter cxx. 1, I liftid myn eghyn in hillis wheþen help cum till me. 1340 ― Pr. Consc. 5205 Ierusalem..fra whethen þe crosse for yhow I bare. c 1400 Laud Troy Bk. 4118 That he was lord of that kyndome Fro whethen alle that riches is come. |
b. In generalized or indefinite sense: From whatever place, whencesoever.
| 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 871 Wheþen in worlde he were, Hit semed as he myȝt Be prynce with-outen pere. |
Hence † ˈwhethenward adv. Obs., in phr. fra whethenward [cf. -ward 4, 7], from whence, whence.
| c 1200 Ormin 16668 Þu ne mahht nohht witenn..Fra wheþennwarrd gast cumeþþ forþ. |