Meaning and Origin
What does the name West mean? Keep reading to find the user submitted meanings, dictionary definitions, and more.
Origin and Meaning of West
User Submitted Origins
English
82%
American
9%
Korean
9%
User Submitted Meanings
- A user from New Hampshire, U.S. says the name West means "Going to the west".
International Interest
Also see international interest
Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
noun West
Senses
- The point in the heavens where the sun is seen to set at the equinox; or, the corresponding point on the earth; that one of the four cardinal points of the compass which is in a direction at right angles to that of north and south, and on the left hand of a person facing north; the point directly opposite to east."And fresh from the west is the free wind's breath." [Bryant.]
- A country, or region of country, which, with regard to some other country or region, is situated in the direction toward the west.
- The Westen hemisphere, or the New World so called, it having been discovered by sailing westward from Europe; the Occident.
- [U. S. Hist. & Geog]
Formerly, that part of the United States west of the Alleghany mountains; now, commonly, the whole region west of the Mississippi river; esp., that part which is north of the Indian Territory, New Mexico, etc. Usually with the definite article.
- The Westen hemisphere, or the New World so called, it having been discovered by sailing westward from Europe; the Occident.
Etymology: AS. west, adv.; akin to D. west, G. west westen, OHG. westan, Icel. vestr, Sw. vest vester vestan, Dan. vest vesten, and perhaps to L. vesper evening, Gr. �. ����. Cf. Vesper Visigoth
adjective West
Senses
- Lying toward the west; situated at the west, or in a western direction from the point of observation or reckoning; proceeding toward the west, or coming from the west; as, a west course is one toward the west; an east and west line; a west wind blows from the west."This shall be your west border." [Num. xxxiv. 6.]
- [Eccl] Designating, or situated in, that part of a church which is opposite to, and farthest from, the east, or the part containing the chancel and choir.
adverb West
Westward.
Etymology: AS. west
verb West
Senses
- To pass to the west; to set, as the sun.(Obs)"The hot sun gan to west." [Chaucer.]
- To turn or move toward the west; to veer from the north or south toward the west.
Other Dictionary Sources
- A location in the western part of a country, region, or city
- The countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
- The region of the United States lying to the west of the Mississippi River
- English painter (born in America) who became the second president of the Royal Academy (1738-1820)
- United States film actress (1892-1980)
- British writer (born in Ireland) (1892-1983)
- The cardinal compass point that is a 270 degrees
- The direction corresponding to the westward cardinal compass point
- Situated in or facing or moving toward the west
- To, toward, or in the west ("we moved west to Arizona" and "situated west of Boston")
Wiktionary
- The Western world; the regions, primarily situated in the Western Hemisphere, whose culture is derived from Europe.
- (historical) the Western Bloc (the noncommunist countries of Europe and America)
- (US) The Western United States in the 19th century era of terrestrial expansion; the Wild West.
- The western states of the United States.
- The European Union; a Western Region that is primarily an economic and political Bloc that covers 27 member states.
- Regions or countries lying to the west of a specified or implied point of orientation.
- The western part of any region.
- Senegal is a nation that lies in the .
- The one of four positions at 90-degree intervals that lies to the west or at the left of a diagram.
- A person (as a bridge player) occupying this position during a specified activity.
- A surname for a newcomer from the west, or someone who lived to the west of a village.
West was also found in the following language(s): German