Wes"ley*an (?), a. [See Wesleyanism.] Of or pertaining to Wesley or
Wesleyanism.
Wes"ley*an, n. (Eccl.) One who adopts the principles of Wesleyanism; a
Methodist.
Wes"ley*an*ism (?), n. (Eccl.) The system of doctrines and church
polity inculcated by John Wesley (b. 1703; d. 1791), the founder of the
religious sect called Methodist; Methodism. See Methodist, n., 2.
West (?), 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. &?;. &?;&?;&?;&?;. Cf. Vesper,
Visigoth.]
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.
And fresh from the west is the free wind's breath.
Bryant.
2. A country, or region of country, which, with regard to some other
country or region, is situated in the direction toward the west.
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.
West by north, West by south, according to the notation of the
mariner's compass, that point which lies 11¼° to the north or south,
respectively, of the point due west. — West northwest, West southwest,
that point which lies 22½° to the north or south of west, or halfway
between west and northwest or southwest, respectively. See Illust. of
Compass.
West, a. 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.
West end, the fashionable part of London, commencing from the east, at
Charing Cross.
West, adv. [AS. west.] Westward.
West, v. i.
1. To pass to the west; to set, as the sun. [Obs.] "The hot sun gan to
west." Chaucer.
2. To turn or move toward the west; to veer from the north or south
toward the west.
West"er*ing (?), a. Passing to the west.
Toward heaven's descent had sloped his westering wheel.
Milton.
West"er*ly, a. Of or pertaining to the west; toward the west; coming
from the west; western.
West"er*ly, adv. Toward the west; westward.
West"ern (?), a.
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.
Far o'er the glowing western main.
Keble.
2. Moving toward the west; as, a ship makes a western course; coming
from the west; as, a western breeze.
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.
West"ern*er (?), n. A native or inhabitant of the west.
West"ern*most` (?), a. Situated the farthest towards the west; most
western.
{ West` In"di*a (?), West` In"di*an (?).} Belonging or relating to the
West Indies.
West India tea (Bot.), a shrubby plant (Capraria biflora) having
oblanceolate toothed leaves which are sometimes used in the West Indies
as a substitute for tea.
West` In"di*an. A native of, or a dweller in, the West Indies.
West"ing (?), n. (Naut. & Surv.) The distance, reckoned toward the
west, between the two meridians passing through the extremities of a
course, or portion of a ship's path; the departure of a course which
lies to the west of north.