widdershins
The unlucky direction
Widdershins means counterclockwise or in the direction opposite to the sun's apparent course.
The word survives mainly in Scottish and Northern English dialects, often carrying associations with the uncanny or unlucky—walking widdershins around a church was thought to invite bad fortune or summon evil spirits.
She circled the well widdershins three times.
Rotating opposite to clock hands
- leftwardToward the left
- sinistralLeft-side dominant
- spiralCurve winding around center
- gyrateMove in spirals
rotate · twist · turn · whirl · swirl · eddy · pivot · revolve
Threateningly suggestive of harm
- backwardsToward what's behind
- retrogradeMoving in reverse direction
- leftwardToward the left
- scotsPeople from north Britain
Reverse or contrary thing
- reverseTurn to opposite
- againstIn opposition to
- counterFlat service surface
- backwardsToward what's behind
wrong direction · unconventional · nonconforming · rebellious · defiant · inverted · perverse
Practice of supernatural magic
- curseInvoked harm through words
- hexMalevolent incantation
- spellArrange letters correctly
- incantationSpoken magical formula
occult · paganism · ritual · coven · sabbath · black magic · left-hand path · banishing
Prophetic indicator
- misfortuneAdverse circumstance or event
- jinxCurse bringing misfortune
- ill-fatedDestined to fail
- inauspiciousShowing poor prospects
foreboding · portent · taboo · forbidden · sinister · ill-omened · accursed · unholy
anticlockwise
Rotating opposite to clock hands
gyrate · rotate · twist · turn · whirl · swirl · eddy · pivot · revolve · coil
sinister
Threateningly suggestive of harm
- backwardsToward what's behind
- retrogradeMoving in reverse direction
- leftwardToward the left
scots · antiquated · obsolete · medieval
opposite
Reverse or contrary thing
backwards · wrong direction · unconventional · nonconforming · rebellious · defiant · inverted · perverse
witchcraft
Practice of supernatural magic
incantation · occult · paganism · ritual · coven · sabbath · black magic · left-hand path · banishing · uncrossing
omen
Prophetic indicator
- misfortuneAdverse circumstance or event
- jinxCurse bringing misfortune
- ill-fatedDestined to fail
inauspicious · foreboding · portent · taboo · forbidden · sinister · ill-omened · accursed · unholy · contrary