west
//wɛst//
Forms
- Plural
- wests
- Comparative
- further west
- Superlative
- furthest west
Definitions
1.The direction opposite to that of the earth's rotation, specifically 270°.
- Portugal lies to the west of Spain.
- We used to live in the west of the country.
2.The western region or area; the inhabitants thereof.
3.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.
- The seating for honored persons (clergy) is at the liturgical west, opposite the entrance and lectern.
- 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.
1.Situated or lying in or toward the west; westward.
2.Of wind: from the west.
3.Of or pertaining to the west; western.
4.From the West; occidental.
1.Towards the west; westwards.
- This thoroughfare bears (to the) West.
Frequency
Overall
Common· #829
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Uncommon
- General reading & writing
- Common
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Related words
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