ad. 从何处, 出于什么原因, 从哪个

n. 来处, 根源

[ adv ]
from what place, source, or cause
<adv.all>

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.

Note: All the words of this class, whence, where, whither,
whereabouts, etc., are occasionally used as pronouns by
a harsh construction.

O, how unlike the place from whence they fell?
--Milton.

Note: From whence, though a pleonasm, is fully authorized by
the use of good writers.

From whence come wars and fightings among you?
--James iv. 1.
※ Of whence, also a pleonasm, has become
obsolete.