n. [ 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. &unr_;. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;. Cf. Vesper, Visigoth. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

And fresh from the west is the free wind's breath. Bryant. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A country, or region of country, which, with regard to some other country or region, is situated in the direction toward the west. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Specifically: (a) The Westen hemisphere, or the New World so called, it having been discovered by sailing westward from Europe; the Occident. (b) (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. [ 1913 Webster ]

West by north,
West by south, according to the notation of the mariner's compass, that point which lies 111/4° to the north or south, respectively, of the point due west. --
West northwest,
West southwest, that point which lies 221/2° to the north or south of west, or halfway between west and northwest or southwest, respectively. See Illust. of Compass. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. [ AS. west. ] Westward. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To pass to the west; to set, as the sun. [ Obs. ] “The hot sun gan to west.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To turn or move toward the west; to veer from the north or south toward the west. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

This shall be your west border. Num. xxxiv. 6. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (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. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

West end, the fashionable part of London, commencing from the east, at Charing Cross. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Passing to the west. [ 1913 Webster ]

Toward heaven's descent had sloped his westering wheel. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to the west; toward the west; coming from the west; western. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Toward the west; westward. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Of or pertaining to the west; situated in the west, or in the region nearly in the direction of west; being in that quarter where the sun sets; as, the western shore of France; the western ocean. [ 1913 Webster ]

Far o'er the glowing western main. Keble. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Moving toward the west; as, a ship makes a western course; coming from the west; as, a western breeze. [ 1913 Webster ]

Western Church. See Latin Church, under Latin. --
Western empire (Hist.), the western portion of the Roman empire, as divided, by the will of Theodosius the Great, between his sons Honorius and Arcadius, a. d. 395. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A native or inhabitant of the west. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Situated the farthest towards the west; most western. [ 1913 Webster ]