from hence

from hence
from whence, from hence
1. Although widely disapproved of on the grounds that from is redundant, from whence has a long and distinguished history of use in questions

• (From whence these Murmurs, and this change of mind —Dryden, 1697)

and in indirect questions or as a conjunction introducing a relative clause

• (No man can say from whence the greater danger to order arises —F. Harrison, 1867).

The phrase with from continues to be used in modern writing:

• When they show the captive a picture of the City of London, that he may know from whence they come, he displays no interest —Penelope Lively, 1991

• Dark clouds had gathered over the hills to the north, from whence came the lucky changeling folk in times long past —S. Koea, NewZE 1994

• It should go back as close as possible to the spot from whence it came–Daily Telegraph, 2007.

The modern uses have mostly to do with people's origins and can be justified stylistically as archaisms (cf.

• Thys felowe, we knowe not from whence he ys —Tyndale, 1526).

In general use, if whence has to be used, it is best used without from; but of course the problem can be avoided altogether by rephrasing in a way that is in any case more natural in modern English:…so that he can know where they come from /…to the spot it came from, and so on.
2. The OED gives numerous examples, dating from the 14c to the 19c, of the use of from hence. A typical 19c example is

• From hence I was conducted up a staircase to a suite of apartments —W. Irving, 1820.

In current English this use is best avoided.

Modern English usage. 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • from hence — adverb archaic : hence : from this place a fortnight since we set out from hence upon a little excursion Thomas Gray …   Useful english dictionary

  • from hence — phrasal archaic from this place ; from this time …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Hence — (h[e^]ns), adv. [OE. hennes, hens (the s is prop. a genitive ending; cf. { wards}), also hen, henne, hennen, heonnen, heonene, AS. heonan, heonon, heona, hine; akin to OHG. hinn[=a]n, G. hinnen, OHG. hina, G. hin; all from the root of E. he. See… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • from whence — from whence, from hence 1. Although widely disapproved of on the grounds that from is redundant, from whence has a long and distinguished history of use in questions • (From whence these Murmurs, and this change of mind Dryden, 1697) and in… …   Modern English usage

  • hence — For the use of from hence, see from whence, from hence …   Modern English usage

  • hence — ► ADVERB 1) as a consequence; for this reason. 2) from now; in the future. 3) (also from hence) archaic from here. ORIGIN Old English …   English terms dictionary

  • hence — adverb 1》 as a consequence; for this reason. 2》 from now; in the future. 3》 (also from hence) archaic from here. Origin ME hennes: from earlier henne (from OE heonan, of Gmc origin, related to he) + s3 …   English new terms dictionary

  • hence — [hens] adv. [ME hennes < henne < OE heonan(e), from here + (e)s, adv. gen. suffix (as in SINCE, THENCE) < IE base as in HE1, HERE] 1. from this place; away [go hence] 2 …   English World dictionary

  • hence — W2 [hens] adv formal [Date: 1200 1300; Origin: hen hence (12 15 centuries) (from Old English heonan) + s (as in backwards)] 1.) [sentence adverb] for this reason ▪ The cost of transport is a major expense for an industry. Hence factory location… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • hence — [ hens ] adverb FORMAL *** Hence can be used in the following ways: as a way of starting a sentence, clause, or phrase, and showing how it is related to what has just been said: Crime is on the increase, hence the need for more police. as an… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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