withershins
[with -er-shinz]
- 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.
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Also wid·der·shins [wid-er-shinz] /ˈwɪd ərˌʃɪnz/.
Compare deasil.
Origin of withershins
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for withershins
Historical Examples of withershins
But this is telling our tale "withershins about," as they say in Netherby.
Cleg Kelly, Arab of the CityS. R. (Samuel Rutherford) Crockett
To go 'withershins' seems to have been reserved for cursing and excommunication.
Balder The Beautiful, Vol. I.Sir James George Frazer
To go round the person in the opposite direction, or “withershins,” is an evil incantation and brings ill-fortune.
The Kath Sarit SgaraSomadeva Bhatta
A weak man like his learned brother Withershins was not a judge to keep the high-roads safe, and make crime tremble.
In a Glass Darkly, v. 1/3Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
Having arrived at their rendezvous, they danced round it ‘withershins’—that is, in reverse of the apparent motion of the sun.
Witch, Warlock, and MagicianWilliam Henry Davenport Adams
withershins
widdershins
- in the direction contrary to the apparent course of the sun; anticlockwise
- in a direction contrary to the usual; in the wrong directionCompare deasil
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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
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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