adv. [ OE. when, whan, whenne, whanne, AS. hwænne, hwanne, hwonne; akin to OS. hwan, OD. wan, OHG. wanne, G. wann when, wenn if, when, Goth. hwan when, and to E. who. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;. See Who. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. At what time; -- used interrogatively. [ 1913 Webster ]

When shall these things be? Matt. xxiv. 3. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ See the Note under What, pron., 1. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. At what time; at, during, or after the time that; at or just after, the moment that; -- used relatively. [ 1913 Webster ]

Kings may
Take their advantage when and how they list. Daniel. [ 1913 Webster ]

Book lore ne'er served, when trial came,
Nor gifts, when faith was dead. J. H. Newman. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. While; whereas; although; -- used in the manner of a conjunction to introduce a dependent adverbial sentence or clause, having a causal, conditional, or adversative relation to the principal proposition; as, he chose to turn highwayman when he might have continued an honest man; he removed the tree when it was the best in the grounds. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Which time; then; -- used elliptically as a noun. [ 1913 Webster ]

I was adopted heir by his consent;
Since when, his oath is broke. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ When was formerly used as an exclamation of surprise or impatience, like what! [ 1913 Webster ]

Come hither; mend my ruff:
Here, when! thou art such a tedious lady! J. Webster. [ 1913 Webster ]

When as,
When that, at the time that; when. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

When as sacred light began to dawn. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

When that mine eye is famished for a look. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

conj. Whereas; while [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Whenas, if they would inquire into themselves, they would find no such matter. Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. From what place; hence, from what or which source, origin, antecedent, premise, or the like; how; -- used interrogatively. [ 1913 Webster ]

Whence hath this man this wisdom? Matt. xiii. 54. [ 1913 Webster ]

Whence and what art thou? Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. From what or which place, source, material, cause, etc.; the place, source, etc., from which; -- used relatively. [ 1913 Webster ]

Grateful to acknowledge whence his good
Descends. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ All the words of this class, whence, where, whither, whereabouts, etc., are occasionally used as pronouns by a harsh construction. [ 1913 Webster ] O, how unlike the place from whence they fell? Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ From whence, though a pleonasm, is fully authorized by the use of good writers. [ 1913 Webster ] From whence come wars and fightings among you? James iv. 1. [ 1913 Webster ] Of whence, also a pleonasm, has become obsolete. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. & conj. Whencesoever. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. From, or forth from, what or which place; whence. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. & conj. From what place soever; from what cause or source soever. [ 1913 Webster ]

Any idea, whencesoever we have it. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. & conj. Whenever. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. & conj. At whatever time. “Whenever that shall be.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Whence. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. & conj. At what time soever; at whatever time; whenever. Mark xiv. 7. [ 1913 Webster ]