thither

Everyday

1. (old-fashioned, formal) Thither means "to that place" or "there": "He went thither on foot." tree →
2. "Hither and thither" means here and there, in many directions: "The leaves blew hither and thither." tree →

In the lessons

It appears in old books, the Bible (King James Version), poems and fairy tales; it tells the reader the language is old or grand. In modern speech it survives mainly in "hither and thither". Paired old words: hither (to here), thither (to there), whither (to where?), hence, thence, whence (from here, there, where).

Examples

• They journeyed thither by boat. (old style) tree →
• The children ran hither and thither across the field. tree →
• Ants scurried hither and thither. tree →
• "Go thither and bring me water," said the king. tree →
• In the old story, the knight rode thither to save the town. tree →
• The wind blew the paper hither and thither. tree →
• Whither goest thou? Thither, to the sea. (old poem style) tree →
• Thither he went without speaking a word. tree →

Note

Pronounced "THITH-er" with the soft "th" of "the". Do not use it in normal modern writing except in "hither and thither". It means "to there", not "at there".

In Jewish tradition

It appears in old books, the Bible (King James Version), poems and fairy tales; it tells the reader the language is old or grand. In modern speech it survives mainly in "hither and thither". Paired old words: hither (to here), thither (to there), whither (to where?), hence, thence, whence (from here, there, where).

Examples

• And Abraham said unto him: 'Beware thou that thou bring not my son back thither. (Torah GEN.24.6, JPS 1917) tree →
• Get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die.' (Torah GEN.42.2, JPS 1917) tree →
• Also the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, saying: Thou also shalt not go in thither; (Torah DEU.1.37, JPS 1917) tree →
• So they did unto all the Israelites that came thither in Shiloh. (Prophets 1SA.2.14, JPS 1917) tree →
• They were ashamed because they had hoped; they came thither, and were confounded. (Writings JOB.6.20, JPS 1917) tree →
• But to the land whereunto they long to return, thither shall they not return. (Prophets JER.22.27, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Pronounced "THITH-er" with the soft "th" of "the". Do not use it in normal modern writing except in "hither and thither". It means "to there", not "at there".

Early Modern English

Meaning

To that place. tree →

Then and now

Old-fashioned; today we say "there" or "to that place."

Examples

• And Abraham said unto him: 'Beware thou that thou bring not my son back thither. (Torah GEN.24.6, JPS 1917) tree →
• Thither he went without speaking a word. (Russian Fairy Tales: A Choice Collection of Muscovite Folk-lore) tree →
• Get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die.' (Torah GEN.42.2, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Today: there, to that place.