Where does “whitherward” come from?

whitherward (English) comes from Middle English whiderward, from Middle English whider, from Old English hwider, from Old English hwæder, from Proto-Germanic *hwadrê — to which place, to where, whither.

whitherward (English): In what direction; toward what or which place

Definitions

  1. In what direction; toward what or which place

Ancestry of “whitherward”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishwhiderwardwhitherward
2Middle Englishwhiderwhither
3Old Englishhwiderto where, whither
4Old EnglishhwæderAlternative form of hwider
5Proto-Germanic*hwadrêto which place, to where, whither
Every word from Proto-Germanic *hwadrê →Every word from Old English hwæder →Every word from Old English hwider →