- Today's Word
Widdershins
[WID-er-shinz]
Definition
- (ajective) A counterclockwise or contrary direction. It often refers to moving or doing something in an unconventional, unorthodox, or opposite way, against the usual flow or expectations.
Example
In a quirky attempt to break her writer’s block, Samantha decided to take a widdershins walk around the park, hoping that the unusual direction would help spark new ideas and perspectives.
Fun Fact
The word “widdershins” has its roots in Old High German, where “widersinnen” meant “to go against.” In Medieval times, moving widdershins was considered unlucky or even evil, as it was thought to go against the natural order of things. This superstition was particularly strong in Celtic and Germanic cultures, where walking widdershins around a church or sacred site was believed to invoke the devil or dark forces. Today, the term is often used more lightheartedly to describe any action or movement that goes against the norm or expected direction, whether in a literal or metaphorical sense. Some modern Pagans and Wiccans have even reclaimed the term, using widdershins movements in their rituals and spells to symbolize undoing, banishing, or reversing energies.
(adjective) Relating to or characterized by excessive devotion to sensual pleasure and luxury.
The retreat was unapologetically sybaritic — every surface chosen for how it felt, every meal an event, every hour structured around pleasure so deliberately it became its own kind of discipline.