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What does hither and thither mean?

"Hither" and "thither" are adverbs that indicate movement or direction.

* Hither means "to this place" or "here." It suggests movement towards the speaker or the point of reference.

* Thither means "to that place" or "there." It suggests movement away from the speaker or the point of reference.

Examples:

* "Come hither, child, I have a story to tell you." (The child is being called to the speaker's location.)

* "The birds flew hither and thither in search of food." (The birds moved around in different directions.)

* "She looked hither and thither, searching for her lost keys." (She looked in different places, not just one specific location.)

Usage:

Hither and thither are considered somewhat formal and archaic in modern English. They are not used as frequently as their more common synonyms "here" and "there."

Note:

* The words "hither" and "thither" are often used in pairs to emphasize the movement back and forth or the lack of a specific destination.

* "Hither" is rarely used on its own in modern English.

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