British Dictionary definitions for hither and thither
hither
/ˈhɪðə/
adverb
1.
to or towards this place (esp in the phrase come hither) Also (archaic) hitherward, hitherwards
2.
hither and thither, this way and that, as in a state of confusion
adjective
3.
(archaic or dialect) (of a side or part, esp of a hill or valley) nearer; closer
Word Origin
Old English hider; related to Old Norse hethra here, Gothic hidrē, Latin citrā on this side, citrō
Word Origin and History for hither and thither
hither
adv.
Old English hider, from Proto-Germanic *hideran (cf. Old Norse heðra "here," Gothic hidre "hither"), from Germanic demonstrative base *hi- (cf. he, here). Spelling change from -d- to -th- is the same evolution seen in father. Relation to here is the same as that of thither to there.
Idioms and Phrases with hither and thither
hither and thither
Also, hither and yon. Here and there, as in I've been wandering about, hither and thither, or Ruth went hither and yon, searching for her sister. These old words for “here” and “there” are rarely heard outside these expressions, which themselves may be dying out. [ c. a.d. 725 ]