withershins

English

Alternative forms

• widdershins

Etymology

From wither- +‎ shins, sins, alteration of withersuns (“contrary to the sun's course”, literally “against the sun's”), modelled after Middle Low German, weddersins, weddersinnes (“in the opposite direction”), from Middle High German widdersinnes (“in the opposite direction”, literally “contrary to reason”), from wider (“opposite”) + sinnes (genitive of sin (“course”)). Compare also Old English wiþersīenes (“backwards, withershins”), Icelandic viðer (“against”), Danish and Swedish veder. More at wither, sense.

Adverb

withershins (not comparable)

1. Anti-clockwise, in the contrary direction, especially to the left or opposite to the direction of the sun.

Antonyms

• deiseal