Where does “hence why” come from?
hence why (English) comes from English hence, from Middle English hennes, from Old English heonan, from Old English hē, from Proto-West Germanic *hiʀ, from Proto-Germanic hīz — nominative plural masculine of *hiz; these, these...
hence why (English): For this reason, as a result; therefore, that's why
Definitions
- For this reason, as a result; therefore, that's why
Ancestry of “hence why”, step by step
hence why traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English hence
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | hence | from here, from this place, away; from the living... |
| 2 | Middle English | hennes | — |
| 3 | Old English | heonan | from here, hence |
| 4 | Old English | hē | hey |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | *hiʀ | — |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | hīz | nominative plural masculine of *hiz; these, these... |
via English that's why
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | that's why | a statement to emphasise the reason or explanation just given |