withershins

American  

[with-er-shinz] / ˈwɪð ərˌʃɪnz /

Also widdershins

adverb

Chiefly Scot.

1. 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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withershins British  

/ ˈwɪðər-, ˈwɪðəˌʃɪnz /

adverb

1. in the direction contrary to the apparent course of the sun; anticlockwise

2. in a direction contrary to the usual; in the wrong direction Compare deasil

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Etymology

Origin of withershins

First recorded in 1505–15; from Middle Low German weddersin(ne)s, from 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 send ¹, -s ¹; contrasted with deasil ( def. )

Example Sentences

The world swayed round me and the green trees ran withershins about.

From The Men of the Moss-Hags Being a history of adventure taken from the papers of William Gordon of Earlstoun in Galloway by Crockett, S. R. (Samuel Rutherford)

Arrived at the kirk, they paced around it withershins, that is, in reverse of the apparent motion of the sun.

From Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions — Volume 2 by Mackay, Charles

But the weary wind began to rise,   The sea began to rout, And my luve and his bonny ship   Turned withershins about.

From Ballad Book by Bates, Katherine Lee

Witches in their dances and other pranks, always, it was said, went withershins.

From Folk Lore Superstitious Beliefs in the West of Scotland within This Century by Napier, James

For each group of arches come later than the last in the order of sculpture, and the sculptors during those 300 years went withershins as should you.

From Hills and the Sea by Belloc, Hilaire