withershins

[ with -er-shinz ]
/ ˈwɪð ərˌʃɪnz /

adverb 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 wid·der·shins [wid-er-shinz] /ˈwɪd ərˌʃɪnz/.
Compare deasil.

Origin of withershins

1505–15; < Middle Low German weddersin(ne)s < Middle High German widdersinnes, equivalent to wider (Old High German widar) opposite (see with) + sinnes, genitive of sin way, course (cognate with Old English sīth); see send1, -s1

Words nearby withershins

withe rod, wither, wither on the vine, witherite, withers, withershins, witherspoon, withhold, withholding tax, within, within an ace of

Example sentences from the Web for widdershins

  • Once he built a small outdoor fire and walked around it, widdershins, for several minutes.

    Wizard |Laurence Mark Janifer (AKA Larry M. Harris)

  • That was the wrong way round—the unlucky, uncanonical direction; the evil way, widdershins, the opposite of sunwise.

    Hilda Wade |Grant Allen

British Dictionary definitions for widdershins (1 of 2)

widdershins
/ (ˈwɪdəˌʃɪnz, Scottish ˈwɪdər-) /

adverb

mainly Scot a variant spelling of withershins

British Dictionary definitions for widdershins (2 of 2)

withershins

widdershins

/ (ˈwɪðəˌʃɪnz, Scottish ˈwɪðər-) /

adverb mainly Scot

in the direction contrary to the apparent course of the sun; anticlockwise
in a direction contrary to the usual; in the wrong direction Compare deasil

Word Origin for withershins

C16: from Middle Low German weddersinnes, from Middle High German, literally: opposite course, from wider against + sinnes, genitive of sin course