The word "whither" is pronounced /ˈwɪðər/ and it means "to what place or state". The spelling of "whither" can be confusing because it is an old English word that is not commonly used today. It is spelled with a "wh" instead of just "w" because it is pronounced with a distinct "h" sound. The "i" in the middle is pronounced as a short "i" sound, and the "e" at the end is silent. Despite its unusual spelling, "whither" is still used in formal writing and poetry.
Whither is an adverb that is primarily used in formal or poetic contexts. It is derived from the Old English word "hwiðer," meaning "to what place or state." The purpose of this word is to inquire about the direction or destination of something or someone. It is often used as part of the phrase "whither...?," where the ellipsis is replaced with the subject of the inquiry.
Whither is often employed to contemplate the fate, future, or eventual outcome of a particular situation, person, or group. It suggests a sense of uncertainty or speculation about where or how something will progress or develop. It can be utilized to ponder the expected result of a course of action or to express curiosity about the final destination or purpose of a journey, both literal and metaphorical.
In literary and poetic contexts, whither is frequently used to convey a sense of nostalgia or longing for a bygone era or the direction in which society or civilization is headed. It is an archaic word that has diminished in everyday speech but is still occasionally employed to add a touch of formality or poetic charm to the language.
Overall, whither is an adverb that prompts questions about the future, destiny, destination, or purpose of a person or thing, typically used in formal or poetic contexts.
To what or which place.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "whither" originates from the Old English word "hwider", which itself can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "hwidar" meaning "to where". It is formed from the combination of the interrogative pronoun "hwi-" (meaning "who, what, which") and the adverbial suffix "-der" (meaning "direction" or "way"). Over time, "hwider" evolved into the Middle English "whider" before becoming "whither" in Modern English.