Hither
/ˈhɪð.ər/noun
To or toward this place; here.
Did you know?Hither comes from the same ancient root that gave English words like here and hence, all built around the idea of “this place” in Proto-Germanic and Proto-Indo-European speech.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ḱi- / *ḱe-
“deictic root meaning “here, this” or “to this place””
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*hitra-
“a form built on the deictic root, meaning “to this place””
Old English
English
hider
“to this place, hither”
Middle English
English
hider / hiderward
“toward this place; in this direction”
Modern English
English
hither
“to or toward this place; here”