As interrog. adv. in direct questions, with locative sense: (a) to what place?, where…to?;—sometimes in elliptical or truncated constructions; also in fig. context; ~ that; (b) from what place? or, from what cause? (?error for whennes; ?confusion with whether).

As rel. adv. introducing locative adj. clauses, chiefly nonrestrictive: (a) with ref. to a physical structure, city, region, etc.: to which, into which, where…to; ~ as; (b) with ref. to a road or path: along which, by way of which; (c) with ref. to heaven, hell, etc.: to which, into which, to which end; ~ that.

As subordinating conj. introducing locative or broadly locative adv. clauses: (a) to what place, where…to; also, with generalizing and sometimes concessive force: to whatever place, to wherever, in whatever direction; no matter where; with ref. to a book: at whatever point, to whatever section [quot. a1400]; ~ as (ever, ~ that (ever; (b) in correl. constructions with thider or ther: ~…thider, to what place…to that place, to there; ~…ther, in whatever place…there; not thider…but ~ that, not to that place…but to wherever.

As subordinating conj. introducing locative or broadly locative noun clauses and inf. phrases: (a) functioning usu. as direct obj. of verbs, verb phrases, and infinitives of knowing, discovering, telling, etc.: to what place, where…to, in what direction; also, with verbs other than verbs of motion in noun clause: where, in what place; also in fig. context; also with clause functioning occas. as appositive to direct obj., or as extraposed subj. [quot. a1375]; ~ that; (b) in elliptical or truncated constructions functioning as direct obj., usu. of witen v.(1): to where, to what place, whither;—freq. used in series with other subordinating conjunctions; (c) functioning as direct obj. of verbs usu. of asking or inquiring and constituting indirect questions: to what place, where…to, whither; also in fig. context; also [quot. a1400], from where;—?error for whethen adv. & conj.

In cpds. and combs.: ~ ever, ~ oute, ~ outes, ~ so, ~ so-ever, ~ sum, ~ sum-ever, qq.v.; ~ toward, up to the present time; ani ~, anywhere; no ~ (wher [see also no-whider adv.]; o ~, q.v.; som ~ [see also som-whider adv.].