PIE word
*wek⁽ʷ⁾speros
From Middle English west, from Old English west, from Proto-West Germanic *westr (“western”), from Proto-Germanic *westrą (“west”), from Proto-Germanic *westraz (“west”), from Proto-Indo-European *wek⁽ʷ⁾speros (“evening”).
Cognates
Cognate with Scots wast (“west”), North Frisian waast, weest, wäst (“west”), Saterland Frisian Wääste (“west”), West Frisian and Dutch west (“west”), German West (“west”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, and Norwegian Nynorsk vest (“west”), Faroese and Icelandic vestur (“west”), Swedish väst, väster (“west”); also with Irish feascar, feasgar (“evening; vespers”), Cornish gorthugher (“evening”), Manx fastyr (“afternoon, evening; vespers”), Scottish Gaelic feasgar (“afternoon, evening”), Latin vesper (“evening”), Ancient Greek ἕσπερος (hésperos, “evening; western”), Latvian vakars (“evening”), Lithuanian vakaras (“evening”), Czech, Slovak and Slovene večer (“evening”), Kashubian wieczór (“evening”), Polish wieczerz, wieczór (“evening”), Russian вечер (večer, “evening”), Serbo-Croatian вече, вечер, veče, večer (“evening”), Armenian գիշեր (gišer, “night”). Compare also Catalan oest (“west”), French ouest (“west”), Galician oeste, ueste (“west”), Italian ovest (“west”), Portuguese, Spanish oeste (“west”) (all ultimately borrowings of the Old English word).
Meanings
(not-comparable) Situated or lying in or toward the west; westward.
(not-comparable) Of wind: from the west.
(not-comparable) Of or pertaining to the west; western.
(not-comparable) From the West; occidental.
(not-comparable) Designating, or situated in, the liturgical west, that part of a church which is opposite to, and farthest from, the part containing the chancel.
Interior in 1925, (left) looking north to chancel and (right) looking south (to liturgical west end) It was on account of this connection that St James's became the clowns 'church', an annual clowns' service being held there ... 2008, Philip Temple, Northern Clerkenwell and Pentonville, Paul Mellon Ctr for Studies, →ISBN, page 356:
as in the mosaic of the ascension on San Frediano's liturgical west (geographically east) façade. 2017, Stephen Kite, Building Ruskin's Italy: Watching Architecture, Routledge, →ISBN, page 48:
Spence had decided on a huge image of Christ on the [liturgical] east end [which is the geographic north], filling the entire wall and to be visible through the [liturgical] West Window (Fig. 24.2). 2019, Sarah Hosking, "Coventry Cathedral", in Prickett Stephen Prickett, Edinburgh Companion to the Bible and the Arts, Edinburgh University Press, →ISBN, page 371:
Translations (125)
pt ocidental (occidental) · fr occidental (western) · vo vesüdänik (occidental) · ms مغرب (occidental) · ru за́падный (western) · fi länsimaalainen (occidental) · fa غرب (towards the west) · be захо́дні (western) · kmr xerbî (western) · fr occidental (occidental) · ms maghrib (western) · fa خوروران (towards the west) · ckb rojawayî (western) · bdr barat (towards the west) · mk за́паден (occidental) · ms maghrib (towards the west) · ckb xorawayî (occidental) · ms maghrib (occidental) · bdr barat (western) · yoi イリ (towards the west) · te పడమటి (towards the west) · sv västerut (towards the west) · hy արևմտյան (towards the west) · ms مغرب (western) · nv eʼeʼaahjigo (towards the west) · te పశ్చిమ (towards the west) · az qərbi (western) · kmr (berew) xorawa (towards the west) · te పాశ్చాత్య (towards the west) · kmr rojavayî (occidental) · nn vestre (towards the west) · el δυτικός (occidental) · hy արևմտյան (occidental) · nn vestleg (western) · la occidentalis (western) · uk за́хідний (western) · ja 西洋 (occidental) · gd an iar (western) · sk západný (western) · ja 西部 (western) · mel barat (occidental) · ms barat (western) · pt ocidental (towards the west) · mel laan (occidental) · ms بارت (western) · nb vestre (towards the west) · ms barat (occidental) · kmr rojavayî (western) · es occidental (occidental) · de westlich (occidental) · sv västlig (western) · ja 欧米 (occidental) · gd an iar (towards the west) · ms kulon (occidental) · ms بارت (towards the west) · rhg fosím (towards the west) · de abendländisch (occidental) · ja 西 (towards the west) · nb vestlig (towards the west) · vo vesüdik (western) · nb vestre (western) · ms kulon (towards the west) · fi länteen päin (towards the west) · te పశ్చిమ (western) · ms مغرب (towards the west) · nn vestleg (towards the west) · cs západní (occidental) · ckb xorawayî (western) · eo okcidenta (towards the west) · nl westelijke (towards the west) · kmr (berew) rojawa (towards the west) · ru за́падный (occidental) · bg западен (western) · kmr xerb(ê) (towards the west) · ms کولون (western) · pl na zachód (towards the west) · pt ocidental (western) · ms barat (towards the west) · bg западен (occidental) · nn vestre (western) · ms kulon (western) · fy westlik (occidental) · de westwärts (towards the west) · lv rietumu (western) · sv västerländsk (occidental) · gd siar (western) · de westlich (western) · mel laan (western) · nl westelijk (towards the west) · ms بارت (occidental) · el δυτικός (western) · mk за́паден (western) · kmr xerbî (occidental) · sjd вуэррьял (western) · el δυτικός (towards the west) · gd siar (towards the west) · mel laan (towards the west) · hy արևմտյան (western) · nl west (towards the west) · vo vesüvedo (towards the west) · lv rietumu (occidental) · fr vers l'ouest (towards the west) · fi läntinen (western) · fa غربی (western) · ms کولون (towards the west) · pl zachodni (occidental) · kmr (ber bi) rojava (towards the west) · cs západní (western) · de westlich (towards the west) · te పాశ్చాత్య (western) · mel barat (towards the west) · fa غربی (occidental) · mel barat (western) · fy westlik (towards the west) · nb vestlig (western) · bdr barat (occidental) · ms کولون (occidental) · ckb rojawayî (occidental) · vo vesüdio (towards the west) · mk оксидента́лен (occidental) · es al oeste (towards the west) · mk за́падно (towards the west) · es occidental (western) · zh 西 (towards the west) · pl zachodni (western)
PIE word
*wek⁽ʷ⁾speros
From Middle English west, from Old English west, from Proto-West Germanic *westr (“western”), from Proto-Germanic *westrą (“west”), from Proto-Germanic *westraz (“west”), from Proto-Indo-European *wek⁽ʷ⁾speros (“evening”).
Cognates
Cognate with Scots wast (“west”), North Frisian waast, weest, wäst (“west”), Saterland Frisian Wääste (“west”), West Frisian and Dutch west (“west”), German West (“west”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, and Norwegian Nynorsk vest (“west”), Faroese and Icelandic vestur (“west”), Swedish väst, väster (“west”); also with Irish feascar, feasgar (“evening; vespers”), Cornish gorthugher (“evening”), Manx fastyr (“afternoon, evening; vespers”), Scottish Gaelic feasgar (“afternoon, evening”), Latin vesper (“evening”), Ancient Greek ἕσπερος (hésperos, “evening; western”), Latvian vakars (“evening”), Lithuanian vakaras (“evening”), Czech, Slovak and Slovene večer (“evening”), Kashubian wieczór (“evening”), Polish wieczerz, wieczór (“evening”), Russian вечер (večer, “evening”), Serbo-Croatian вече, вечер, veče, večer (“evening”), Armenian գիշեր (gišer, “night”). Compare also Catalan oest (“west”), French ouest (“west”), Galician oeste, ueste (“west”), Italian ovest (“west”), Portuguese, Spanish oeste (“west”) (all ultimately borrowings of the Old English word).
Meanings
Towards the west; westwards.
This thoroughfare bears (to the) West.
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
farther west
Degree=Cmp
lexicographic
further west
Degree=Cmp
lexicographic
furthest west
Degree=Sup
lexicographic
farthest west
Degree=Sup
lexicographic
Translations (11)
el δυτικά (towards the west) · nl westwaarts (towards the west) · mr पश्चिमेकडे (towards the west) · ja 西へ (towards the west) · gd an iar (towards the west) · is vestur (towards the west) · pl na zachód (towards the west) · et läänes (towards the west) · ko 서쪽으로 (towards the west) · bg на запад (towards the west) · lv uz rietumiem (towards the west)
PIE word
*wek⁽ʷ⁾speros
From Middle English west, from Old English west, from Proto-West Germanic *westr (“western”), from Proto-Germanic *westrą (“west”), from Proto-Germanic *westraz (“west”), from Proto-Indo-European *wek⁽ʷ⁾speros (“evening”).
Cognates
Cognate with Scots wast (“west”), North Frisian waast, weest, wäst (“west”), Saterland Frisian Wääste (“west”), West Frisian and Dutch west (“west”), German West (“west”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, and Norwegian Nynorsk vest (“west”), Faroese and Icelandic vestur (“west”), Swedish väst, väster (“west”); also with Irish feascar, feasgar (“evening; vespers”), Cornish gorthugher (“evening”), Manx fastyr (“afternoon, evening; vespers”), Scottish Gaelic feasgar (“afternoon, evening”), Latin vesper (“evening”), Ancient Greek ἕσπερος (hésperos, “evening; western”), Latvian vakars (“evening”), Lithuanian vakaras (“evening”), Czech, Slovak and Slovene večer (“evening”), Kashubian wieczór (“evening”), Polish wieczerz, wieczór (“evening”), Russian вечер (večer, “evening”), Serbo-Croatian вече, вечер, veče, večer (“evening”), Armenian գիշեր (gišer, “night”). Compare also Catalan oest (“west”), French ouest (“west”), Galician oeste, ueste (“west”), Italian ovest (“west”), Portuguese, Spanish oeste (“west”) (all ultimately borrowings of the Old English word).
Meanings
The direction opposite to that of the earth's rotation, specifically 270°.
We used to live in the west of the country.
Portugal lies to the west of Spain.
The western region or area; the inhabitants thereof.
In a church: the direction of the gallery, opposite to the altar, and opposite to the direction faced by the priest when celebrating ad orientem.
In most worship spaces, this will put the thurifer and gospeller facing liturgical west, book bearer facing liturgical east (or the book on the reading desk), and the torch bearers turned inward, facing the book. 2007, Patrick Malloy, Celebrating the Eucharist: A Practical Ceremonial Guide for Clergy and Other Liturgical Ministers, Church Publishing, Inc., →ISBN, page 155:
Throughout the book I refer directionally to the altar and chancel of St. Andrew's as situated at ecclesiastical east (to avoid overcomplicating matters), not geographical or magnetic southeast. Thus, the altar is located at the east end of the church, and the gallery, at the west. 2014, Paul Porwoll, Against All Odds: History of Saint Andrew's Parish Church, Charleston, 1706-2013, WestBow Press, →ISBN, page 365:
In two respects, however, the cathedral [of St. Mary's in Sydney, Australia] differs from English traditions: it is oriented north-south, not east-west; and its main entry is from the south (liturgical west) between the two towers, in the French manner. 1997, John Haskell, John Callanan, Sydney Architecture, UNSW Press, →ISBN:
The seating for honored persons (clergy) is at the liturgical west, opposite the entrance and lectern. 2000, Mark L. MacDonald, The Chant of Life: Liturgical Studies Four, Church Publishing, Inc., →ISBN, page 98:
PIE word
*wek⁽ʷ⁾speros
From Middle English west, from Old English west, from Proto-West Germanic *westr (“western”), from Proto-Germanic *westrą (“west”), from Proto-Germanic *westraz (“west”), from Proto-Indo-European *wek⁽ʷ⁾speros (“evening”).
Cognates
Cognate with Scots wast (“west”), North Frisian waast, weest, wäst (“west”), Saterland Frisian Wääste (“west”), West Frisian and Dutch west (“west”), German West (“west”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, and Norwegian Nynorsk vest (“west”), Faroese and Icelandic vestur (“west”), Swedish väst, väster (“west”); also with Irish feascar, feasgar (“evening; vespers”), Cornish gorthugher (“evening”), Manx fastyr (“afternoon, evening; vespers”), Scottish Gaelic feasgar (“afternoon, evening”), Latin vesper (“evening”), Ancient Greek ἕσπερος (hésperos, “evening; western”), Latvian vakars (“evening”), Lithuanian vakaras (“evening”), Czech, Slovak and Slovene večer (“evening”), Kashubian wieczór (“evening”), Polish wieczerz, wieczór (“evening”), Russian вечер (večer, “evening”), Serbo-Croatian вече, вечер, veče, večer (“evening”), Armenian գիշեր (gišer, “night”). Compare also Catalan oest (“west”), French ouest (“west”), Galician oeste, ueste (“west”), Italian ovest (“west”), Portuguese, Spanish oeste (“west”) (all ultimately borrowings of the Old English word).
Meanings
(intransitive) To move to the west; (of the sun), to set.
The ships would leave Europe in April, when there was a good easterly wind. Trans-Atlantic mariners wanted the wind dead on the stern, so they could run with it, sticking to the same latitude—a method called easting and westing. Columbus, Cabot, and many others had done this. Until the eighteenth century, there was no reliable way to measure longitude, which helps explain why so many could make landfalls from the Bahamas to Newfoundland and believe they were near Asia. Latitude could be fixed by the relationship to the North Star or the sun, one of the few things known in the sixteenth century about celestial navigation. Westing ships out of Bristol reached the Labrador coast and dropped down to Newfoundland. Bretons went straight to the Grand Bank and St. John's. If a ship left the harbor at La Rochelle, dropping below the two islands that protect that harbor, and then stuck to its latitude, it would make landfall at Cape Breton, where the French station of Louisbourg was established so that La Rochelle ships could easily find it. 1997, Mark Kurlansky, “Chapter 4: 1620: The Rock and the Cod”, in Cod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World, Walker, →ISBN:
Foure times his place he shifted hath in sight, / And twice has risen, where he now doth West, / And wested twice, where he ought rise aright. 1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book V, Prologue”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC: