thither

American  

[thith-er, thith-] / ˈθɪð ər, ˈðɪð- /

adverb

1. Also thitherward thitherwards. to or toward that place or point; there.

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adjective

1. on the farther or other side or in the direction away from the person speaking; farther; more remote.

thither British  

/ ˈðɪðə, ˈðɪðəwəd /

adverb

1. obsolete to or towards that place; in that direction

   the flowers and music which attract people thither

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thither Idioms  

1. see hither and thither.

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Etymology

Origin of thither

First recorded before 900; Middle English, variant of Middle English thider, Old English, alteration of thæder(i) ( i from hider hither ); akin to Old Norse thathra “there,” Gothic thathro “thence,” Sanskrit tátra “there, thither”

Explanation

Use the word thither when you need a colorful way to say "over there." For example, you might point across the street and say, "Let's go thither, to the ice cream shop." It's too bad this adverb has fallen from fashion because it is so much fun (for native speakers, anyway) to pronounce. Thither means, in essence, "to that place," although these days its territory is pretty much taken over by there, just as its companions hither and whither have been replaced by here and where. The original version of thither was the Germanic thæder, and it's related to other th words like that and the.

Example Sentences

Apart from taking it easy on the reverend, the biggest mistake Kimmy can make is not investigating what her fiancé calls her Whence Thither book.

From Slate • May 12, 2020

Thither last week he had a new Ford shipped.

From Time Magazine Archive

Thither Mr. Gibson will lead a U.S. delegation, hoping for much, expecting nothing.

From Time Magazine Archive

Thither, four years ago, was carried a strange patient, a delicate, wistful-eyed old Richmond lady who would not grow old.

From Time Magazine Archive

Thither the gaoler pursued his course, and thence to Sudbourn.

From The History of Margaret Catchpole A Suffolk Girl by Cobbold, Richard