1.
Chiefly Scot . in a direction contrary to the natural one, especially contrary to the apparent course of the sun or counterclockwise: considered as unlucky or causing disaster. Also, widdershins .
Definition of withershins| See synonyms| Comment on today's word| Suggest tomorrow's word
Quotes:
There, as the moon rises, walk three times withershins round the riven trunk, and cast the broth on the ground before her.
-- Walter Douglas Campbell, Beyond the Border , 1898
To move against the sun was improper and productive of evil consequences, and the name given to this direction of movement was withershins .
-- James Napier, Folk lore: or, Superstitious Beliefs in the West of …show more content…
Chiefly Scot . in a direction contrary to the natural one, especially contrary to the apparent course of the sun or counterclockwise: considered as unlucky or causing disaster. Also, widdershins .
Definition of withershins| See synonyms| Comment on today's word| Suggest tomorrow's word
Quotes:
There, as the moon rises, walk three times withershins round the riven trunk, and cast the broth on the ground before her.
-- Walter Douglas Campbell, Beyond the Border , 1898
To move against the sun was improper and productive of evil consequences, and the name given to this direction of movement was withershins .
-- James Napier, Folk lore: or, Superstitious Beliefs in the West of Scotland Within This Century , 1879
Origin:
Withershins comes from the Middle High German wider meaning "against; opposite" and sin "way; course." It entered English in the early 1500s.
POWERED BY 4INFOwithershins \ WITH-er-shinz \ , adverb;
1.
Chiefly Scot . in a direction contrary to the natural one, especially contrary to the apparent course of the sun or counterclockwise: considered as unlucky or causing disaster. Also, widdershins .
Definition of withershins| See synonyms| Comment on today's word| Suggest tomorrow's