hence

C1 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈhɛns/ See IPA manual

Freq #6454

Meanings

1

adv
For this reason; therefore.

The roads were icy, and hence the school was closed.
2

adv
From this time; from now (used after a period of time).

A year hence, all of this will be forgotten.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adv · for this reason; therefore. consequently so

Opposites

hither

Word family

Derived forms henceafterhenceforth henceforward henceforwardshencefromherehencetherehence

Related forms thence whence

Etymology

A later Middle English spelling, retaining the voiceless -s, of hennes (henne + adverbial genitive ending -s), from Old English heonan (“away", "hence”), from a Proto-West Germanic *hin-, from Proto-Germanic *hiz, and Proto-Germanic *-anē. Cognate with Old Saxon hinan, Old High German hinnan (German hinnen), Dutch heen, Swedish hän. Related to Old English her (“here”).

heonan Old English *hin- Proto-West Germanic *hiz Proto-Germanic *-anē Proto-Germanic

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# hence

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** adv
**IPA (US):** /ˈhɛns/
**Frequency rank:** 6454

## Meanings
1. For this reason; therefore.
2. From this time; from now (used after a period of time).

## Examples
- The roads were icy, and hence the school was closed.
- A year hence, all of this will be forgotten.

## Antonyms
- hither

## Derived Forms
- henceafter
- henceforth
- henceforward
- henceforwards
- hencefrom
- herehence
- therehence

## Related Forms
- thence
- whence

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: heonan
- Root: *hin-
- Root: *hiz
- Root: *-anē

## Etymology
A later Middle English spelling, retaining the voiceless -s, of hennes (henne + adverbial genitive ending -s), from Old English heonan (“away", "hence”), from a Proto-West Germanic *hin-, from Proto-Germanic *hiz, and Proto-Germanic *-anē. Cognate with Old Saxon hinan, Old High German hinnan (German hinnen), Dutch heen, Swedish hän. Related to Old English her (“here”).

## AI Etymology
Hence: A later Middle English spelling, retaining the voiceless -s, of hennes (henne + adverbial genitive ending -s), from Old English heonan (“away", "hence”), from a Proto-West Germanic *hin-, from Proto-Germanic *hiz, and Proto-Germanic *-anē. Cognate with Old Saxon hinan, Old High German hinnan (German hinnen), Dutch heen, Swedish hän. Related to Old English her (“here”). Important historical forms include Old English heonan, Proto-West Germanic *hin-, Proto-Germanic *hiz, and Proto-Germanic *-anē. In present-day use, it can mean for this reason; therefore, or from this time; from now (used after a period of time).

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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