hence

[hens]

adverb

1. as an inference from this fact; for this reason; therefore.

   The eggs were very fresh and hence satisfactory.

2. from this time; from now.

   They will leave a month hence.

3. from this source or origin.

4. Archaic.

   1. from this place; from here; away.

      The inn is but a quarter mile hence.

   2. from this world or from the living.

      After a long, hard life they were taken hence.

   3. henceforth; from this time on.

interjection

1. Obsolete.,  depart (usually used imperatively).

hence

/ hɛns /

1. for this reason; following from this; therefore

adverb

1. from this time

   a year hence

2. archaic

   1. from here or from this world; away

   2. from this origin or source

interjection

1. archaic,  begone! away!

Word History and Origins

Origin of hence¹

First recorded in 1225–75; Middle English hens, hennes, equivalent to henne ( Old English heonan ) + -es adverb suffix; -s ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of hence¹

Old English hionane; related to Old High German hinana away from here, Old Irish cen on this side

Example Sentences

"His judgement on policy is flawed, hence U-turns, and he can't communicate, and has been unpopular in the public's eyes for a long time."

From BBC

So, turning in at the same point, the car slides less and turns more than expected; hence the accident.

From BBC

And that is what Sir Keir managed and so hence his team's relief.

From BBC

Primacy belongs to the brain, which dedicates around half of its resources to processing visual information; hence, vision’s intimate relationship to emotion and intuition.

From Salon

Meanwhile, Blanche dates an aerobics instructor who is considerably younger than she is — hence the episode’s title.

From Los Angeles Times