1. The
point in the heavens where the sun is seen to
set at the equinox; or, the corresponding
point on the land; 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 arm of a
face facing north; the
point directly opposite to east. "And
fresh from the
west is the
free wind's breath." (Bryant)
2. A country, or
region of country, which, with
regard to some another country or region, is located in the direction toward the west.
3. Specifically: The Westen hemisphere, or the
new World so called, it having been discovered by sailing westward from Europe; the Occident.
Formerly, that
part of the United States
west of the Alleghany mountains; now, commonly, the
intact region west of the Mississippi river; especially, that
part which is north of the Indian Territory,
new Mexico, etc. Generally with the
definite article. West by north, West by south, according to the
notation of the mariner's compass, that
point which lies 11 1/4 deg to the north or south, respectively, of the
point due west. West northwest, West southwest, that
point which lies 22 1/2 deg to the north or
south of west, or halfway between
west and northwest or southwest, respectively.
Origin: AS. West, adv.;
akin to D. West, G. West, westen, OHG. Westan, Icel. Vestr, Sw. Vest, vester, vestan, Dan. Vest, vesten, and probably to L. Vesper evening, Gr. . Cf. Vesper, Visigoth.
Source: Websters Vocabulary