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withershins

[ with-er-shinz ]

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.


withershins

/ 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
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Word History and Origins

Origin of withershins1

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” ( with ) + sinnes, genitive of sin “way, course” (cognate with Old English sīth ); send 1, -s 1; deasil ( def )
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Word History and Origins

Origin of withershins1

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

"Withershins" and "The Psychedelic Gedankenexperiment" will be on display through Sept.

Having arrived at their rendezvous, they danced round it ‘withershins’—that is, in reverse of the apparent motion of the sun.

Withershins, Widdershins, with′-, wid′ėr-shinz, adv.

The dancers join hands and dance in a circle from west to east, in a contrary direction to the sun's movements—withershins as the Scots peasants have it.

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

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withersWitherspoon