western etymology

Etymology of "Western":

The word "western" originates from the Old English word "westerne," which is derived from the Old Germanic root "west," meaning "sun" or "setting sun."

Meaning and Origin:

In its geographical sense, "western" refers to the direction or region towards the setting sun, typically opposite to the east. It is one of the four cardinal directions, along with north, south, and east.

In a cultural and historical context, "Western" has come to refer to the peoples, cultures, and civilizations of Western Europe and their descendants. This usage arose in the late Middle Ages when Europeans began to distinguish themselves from the Eastern Orthodox and Islamic civilizations to the east.

Over time, the term "Western" has acquired broader connotations to include:

• Western Europe: Countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain.
• Western Hemisphere: The Americas and Greenland.
• Western Christianity: The branches of Christianity that originated in Western Europe, including Catholicism and Protestantism.
• Western Civilization: The complex of social, cultural, political, and technological traditions that emerged in Western Europe and has influenced other parts of the world.

In contemporary usage, "Western" can also refer to:

• Western films: A genre of movies set in the American West during the 19th century.
• Western music: A genre of country music with influences from folk and cowboy songs.
• Western philosophy: The philosophical tradition that originated in ancient Greece and has been developed in Western Europe and its offshoots.

western relate terms

• west

  Etymology The word west comes from the Old English word west which in turn derives

• vesper

  Etymology and Origin The word vesper comes from the Latin word vesper which means

• westerly

  Etymology The word westerly comes from the Old English words west and weard meanin

• western

  Etymology of Western The word western originates from the Old English word westerne

• westernize

  Etymology Westernize is derived from the word West referring to the Western world

• occidental

  Etymology Latin occidentalis western Proto Indo European h₂eks axis Meani

• occident

  Etymology The word occident originates from the Latin word occidens which literally

• croft

  Croft Etymology and Meaning Origin Old English Meaning A small enclosed field or piece

• Marshall

  Etymology The surname Marshall is derived from the Old French word mareschal meani

• petroleum

  Etymology The word petroleum is derived from the Latin word petra meaning rock a

• Pullman

  Etymology The word Pullman has two distinct origins From the city of Pullman Illino

• sandwich

  Etymology The word sandwich is believed to have originated in the late 18th century It

• feature

  Etymology Latin facere to make to do Old French feiture making deed Middle

• earnest

  Etymology The word earnest originated from the Middle English word ernest which deri