Standard Lemma guide

widdershins

adv · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • UK: /ˈwɪ.də.ʃɪnz/
  • US: /ˈwɪ.dɚ.ʃɪnz/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

adv

Meaning 1

Anticlockwise, counter-clockwise.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Examples

  • It is unlucky to walk widdershins around a church.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: clockwise, sunwise, deasil

2

adv

Meaning 2

The wrong way.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Scotland, not-comparable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

First use appears c. 1513, from Middle Low German weddersins (also wēder-, -sinnes), from wed(d)der- (“wither-, against, opposite”) + genitive of sin (“direction, way”).

Across languages

Translations

10 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: обратно на часовниковата стрелка (obratno na časovnikovata strelka) — anticlockwise, counter-clockwise
  • Czech: proti směru hodinových ručiček — anticlockwise, counter-clockwise
  • Dutch: linksom — anticlockwise, counter-clockwise
  • Dutch: tegen de klok in — anticlockwise, counter-clockwise
  • Dutch: tegenwijzerzin — anticlockwise, counter-clockwise
  • Finnish: vastapäivään — anticlockwise, counter-clockwise
  • German: gegen den Uhrzeigersinn — anticlockwise, counter-clockwise
  • Russian: против часово́й стрелки (protiv časovój strelki) — anticlockwise, counter-clockwise
  • Russian: противосолонь (protivosolonʹ) — anticlockwise, counter-clockwise
  • Scottish Gaelic: tuathail — anticlockwise, counter-clockwise