Word of the Day, October 30: ‘Widdershins’

Word of the Day: WIDDERSHINS
Pronunciation: UK /ˈwɪd.ə.ʃɪnz/
US /ˈwɪd.ɚ.ʃɪnz/

Meaning
Widdershins is an adverb that means moving in an anticlockwise or counterclockwise direction. It can also refer to moving in a direction that is considered contrary to the usual way.

Examples in daily use

• The dancers moved widdershins around the bonfire.
• She walked widdershins around the old tree, following the instructions in the book.
• The children ran widdershins around the garden during the game.
• The ritual required everyone to move widdershins before leaving the circle.
• He turned the wheel widdershins to loosen the mechanism.

Origin and history

Widdershins dates back to the early 16th century and is believed to have come from the Middle Low German word ‘weddersinnes’, meaning 'against the way' or 'in the opposite direction'. Its roots combine an element meaning 'against' with one meaning 'direction' or 'way'.

The word was originally associated with movement against the apparent course of the sun.

In older European folklore, moving anticlockwise around a church or during certain rituals was sometimes considered unlucky. This belief helped give the word its association with witchcraft and supernatural practices.

Also Read: Word of the Day, October 29: ‘Vociferous’ 

Cultural significance and modern usage

Although widdershins is rarely used in everyday conversation, it has found a place in fantasy fiction, folklore and stories about magic. In traditional beliefs, moving anticlockwise could be associated with reversing a spell, warding off evil or going against the natural order.

The word is also used in modern fantasy writing to create an old-world or magical atmosphere. It is particularly familiar to readers of stories involving witches, rituals and imaginary worlds.

Interesting facts

Its opposite is deosil. This lesser-known word means moving clockwise or in the direction of the sun.

It has several spelling variations. Older forms include withershins and widdersins.

It appears in fantasy literature. 

Walking widdershins around a church was once associated with bad luck in some traditional beliefs.

Examples from literature

• “Now while they rested, a flittermouse flew forth from the Witchland booths and went widdershins round the wrastling ground and so returned silently whence she came.” — The Worm Ouroboros by E. R. Eddison
• “Thir venerabill virginis quhom ye wald call witches ... nine times, widdersones, about the thorne raid.” — The Flyting Betwixt Montgomery and Polwart by Alexander Montgomerie

Synonyms

• Anticlockwise
• Counterclockwise
• Contrary

Antonyms

• Clockwise
• Sunwise
• Deosil

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