witherward
/ˈwɪðə(ɹ)wə(ɹ)d/
Etymology
From Middle English witherward, from Old English wiþerweard (“contrary, adverse, hostile”), from Proto-West Germanic *wiþraward, from Proto-Germanic *wiþrawardaz (“contrary, adverse, in opposition”); equivalent to wither (“against”) + -ward. Cognate with Old High German widarwart (“witherward”), German widerwärtig (“adverse, repulsive”), Gothic 𐍅𐌹𐌸𐍂𐌰𐍅𐌰𐌹𐍂𐌸𐍃 (wiþrawairþs, “witherward”).
witherward means adverse, contrary. Lexicurio rates it Sui generis — a strength score of 87 out of 100.
witherward is pronounced /ˈwɪðə(ɹ)wə(ɹ)d/.
Why “witherward” is a great word
WITHERWARD — [Adjective] Adverse, contrary, or hostile in nature or direction. From Middle English witherward, from Old English wiþerweard ("contrary, adverse, hostile"), from Proto-Germanic *wiþrawardaz ("turned against"), equivalent to wither ("against") + -ward ("-ward, direction"). Unlike "adverse," which describes unfavorable conditions, or "opposite," which denotes mere position, "witherward" carries the archaic force of active, directional hostility. It is the wind that fights your every step up the fell, the grain in wood that splinters the plane, and the set of a stranger's jaw that promises no quarter—a word for a world configured in explicit opposition, the very direction of refusal.
adj
- Adverse, contrary.“Such a witherward and rotten friend she was.”
- Opposite, opposing; hostile.“[…] then appeared to me along the way by which I formerly came amid the darkness, as it were the brightness of a shining star, and the light was waxing more and more, and quickly hastening to me, and as soon as it came nigh me, then were scattered and away fled all the witherward ghosts, which formerly threatened me with their tongs, [...]”
noun
- Opposite; adversity, opposition; hostility“Nor, although be sung the "mighty stream of tendency" of this wondrous age, did he ever launch his poetic craft upon it, nor seem to see the witherward of its swift and awful stress.”