- where
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I. adverb
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English hwǣr; akin to Old High German hwār where, Old English hwā who — more at who
Date: before 12th century
1.
a. at, in, or to what place <where is the house> <where are we going> b. at, in, or to what situation, position, direction, circumstances, or respect <where does this plan lead> <where am I wrong> 2. archaic here, there <lo, where it comes again — Shakespeare> II. conjunction Date: 12th century 1. a. at, in, or to what place <knows where the house is> b. at, in, or to what situation, position, direction, circumstances, or respect <shows where the plan leads> c. the place or point at, in, or to which <couldn't see from where he was sitting> <kept that horse and gentled him to where I finally rode him — William Faulkner> 2. wherever <goes where she likes> 3. a. at, in, or to which place <the town where she lives> b. at or in which <has reached the size where traffic is a problem> <two fireplaces where you can bake bread in the ovens — Randall Jarrell> 4. a. at, in, or to the place at, in, or to which <stay where you are> <send him away where he'll forget> b. in a case, situation, or respect in which <outstanding where endurance is called for> 5. that <I've read where they do it that way in some Middle Eastern countries — Andy Rooney> III. noun Date: 15th century 1. place, location <the where and the how of the accident> 2. what place, source, or cause <I know where that comes from>
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
