Whence/wens/ Definition 1 of 2Pro Tip 1/3Archaic Usage Mainly found in literature; modern English often prefers 'where' or 'from where'. He journeyed to the ancient land, whence his ancestors hailed. Pro Tip 2/3Poetic Feel Gives a poetic or formal tone to speech or writing. To the village whence the river flows, we cast our flowers. Pro Tip 3/3Implies Origin Highlights the starting point or origin of a subject in discussion. This is the garden whence all the flowers are picked for the ceremony.