wester1
/ˈwɛstə/Now rare
noun
A wind blowing from the west; = westerly.
Origin
Mid 19th century; earliest use found in Thomas Haliburton (1796–1865), politician and writer. From west + -er.
wester2
/ˈwɛstə/(also waster, wastre) regional (Scottish and Newfoundland ) in later use
adjective
Situated or lying (further) to the west; western, westerly. Frequently in place names (especially in Scotland and Newfoundland).
Origin
Old English. Cognate with Old Frisian westra, westera, wester, Middle Dutch wester, Middle Low German wester, Old High German westar (Middle High German wester), Old Icelandic vestri, vestari (Icelandic vestar), Norwegian vestre, Old Swedish västre (Swedish västra), Old Danish waestre, waester, westre (Danish vestre), showing a formation ultimately from the same base as west with different suffixation; compare adverb and noun forms with final -r cited at west adjective n.1preposition.
wester3
/ˈwɛstə/verb
1 [no object] Of the sun or other celestial object: to travel westward in its course; to decline towards the west.
- rare before mid 19th cent. except in the participial adjective..
2 [no object] Of the wind: to change to a more westerly direction; to blow more strongly from the west.
3 [no object] To move (further) west; in later use especially with reference to migration westward across North America.
Origin
Late Middle English; earliest use found in Geoffrey Chaucer (c1340–1400), poet and administrator. Probably from wester; perhaps compare -er.