west

Meanings

1. 1
   adv

   to, toward, or in the west

   we moved west to Arizona

2. 2
   noun

   The direction opposite to that of the earth's rotation, specifically 270°.

   We used to live in the west of the country.

3. 3
   noun

   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 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.

4. 4
   adj

   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 ...

5. 5
   adv

   Towards the west; westwards.

   This thoroughfare bears (to the) West.

6. 6
   verb

   To move to the west; (of the sun) to set.

   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.

7. 7
   name

   Any of various particular regions named for the cardinal direction in which they lie.

   The relationship between China and the West has worsened since U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan earlier this month against Beijing's wishes.

8. 8
   name

   A surname from Middle English for a newcomer from the west, or someone who lived to the west of a village.

   Kanye West took to social media to speak about mental health after a fan claimed that the rapper was “off his meds”.

Etymology

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, Dutch west (“west”), German West (“west”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål and Norwegian Nynorsk vest (“west”), Faroese, Icelandic vestur (“west”), Swedish väst, väster (“west”); also with Irish feascar, feasgar (“evening; ve…