hither

[ hith-er ]

adverb

1. to or toward this place:

   to come hither.

adjective

1. being on this or the closer side; nearer:

   the hither side of the meadow.

hither

/ ˈhɪðə /

adverb

1. to or towards this place (esp in the phrase come hither ) Also (archaic)hitherwardhitherwards
2. hither and thither
   this way and that, as in a state of confusion

adjective

1. archaic.
   (of a side or part, esp of a hill or valley) nearer; closer

Word History and Origins

Origin of hither¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English hider; cognate with Old Norse hethra, Latin citer “on this side”

Word History and Origins

Origin of hither¹

Old English hider; related to Old Norse hethra here, Gothic hidrē, Latin citrā on this side, citrō

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. hither and thither, in various quarters; here and there:

   They scurried hither and thither to escape the rain.

2. hither and yon, from here to over there, especially to a farther place; in or to a great many places:

   He looked hither and yon for the coin. She went hither and yon in search of an answer.

Example Sentences

The fear is essentially anyone who was not born with one functioning ding-dong with which to rule the world, planting seeds hither and yon.

From Salon

The humor is sporadic, hinging mostly on slapstick-style depictions of body parts being flung hither and thither.

From Seattle Times

When Santos is sworn in on Capitol Hill next week, it will send a Bat-signal across the land: Come hither, crooks and swindlers, con artists and hustlers all.

From Salon

So Adam fights the Justice folks, hurling them hither and yon and being by them hurled.

From Seattle Times

“They just roll hither and yon across the prairie depending on the political winds.”

From Los Angeles Times