West
/wɛst/noun
The direction opposite east, where the sun sets.
Did you know?West comes from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning “evening” or “dusk,” which is why so many Indo-European languages connect the west with the setting sun.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*wes-
“to shine; evening, dusk”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*westaz
“west”
Old English
Anglo-Saxon
west
“the west; toward the west”
Old High German
OHG
wëst
“west”
Old Norse
ON
vestr
“west”
Modern English
English
west
“the direction of sunset”