withershins

English - English

Definition of withershins in English English dictionary

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

Hyphenation

with·er·shins

Antonyms

deiseal

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.