Whitherto

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. to the location or time previously discussed or indicated
2. to the specific place or moment that has been referenced prior
3. Referring to the place or time mentioned earlier in the conversation or text

Etymology: "Whitherto" is a compound built from "whither," meaning "to what place" or "to where," and "to," the ordinary preposition. Put together, the pair produces an adverb meaning "to that place," used mostly in formal or legal writing where a writer needs to point back to a previously mentioned destination. The first half, "whither," is itself an older construction: "wh-" question words such as "where" and "whence" descend from Old English forms, and "whither" follows the same pattern, with its "-ther" ending signalling motion toward a place. Adding "to" after it doubles the directional idea, a pattern English sometimes uses for emphasis, so the word spells out motion toward a destination twice over.