"That's a great deal to make one word mean," Alice said in a thoughtful tone. "When I make a word do a lot of work like that," said Humpty Dumpty, "I always pay it extra."

Sunday 12 July 2009

Widdershins

 
Widdershins (sometimes withershins, widershins or widderschynnes) means to take a course opposite that of the sun, going counterclock-wise or simply thw wrong way round. It is mainly found in literature or old magic rituals.

"I cut my finger on a thorn,
Drew a circle with the blood,
Traced it round a-widdershins,
Then silent in the middle stood."

From a wonderful poem entitled The Circle by the author Mary Stewart.
 
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1 comment:

  1. shabby girl14 July 2009 at 03:39

    How many times have I done this! At least a couple!
    I just love that you find these words! It's going in my book!

    ReplyDelete

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