hwæder

Old English

Alternative forms

• hwider, hweder

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *hwadrê. Cognate with Gothic 𐍈𐌰𐌳𐍂𐌴 (ƕadrē).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈxwæ.der/, [ˈʍæ.der]

Adverb

hwæder

1. where (to what place)

   Iċ nāt hwæder iċ fare.

   I don't know where I'm going.

   Iċ wundriġe hwæder sē hund ēode.

   I wonder where the dog went.

   • 10th century, The Wanderer:

     Beorn sċeal ġebīdan, · þonne hē bēot spriceð,
     oþþæt collenferð · cunne ġearwe
     hwider hreþra ġehyġd · hweorfan wille.

     Man must pause when he tells a promise
     until bold spirit would know clearly
     where thought of hearts would turn.

Derived terms

• ǣġhwæder (“to everywhere”)
• āhwæder (“to anywhere”)
• ġehwæder (“in all directions”)
• nāhwæder (“to nowhere”)

Descendants

• Middle English: whider
  • English: whither (archaic)
  • Yola: fidi, vidy, vidie