[f. WESTER v.]
1. That declines from the meridian towards the west. (Said chiefly of the sun when it is nearing the western horizon.)
In very common use from c. 1840.
1637. Milton, Lycidas, 31. Oft till the Star that rose, at Ev’ning, bright Toward Heav’ns descent had slop’d his westering wheel.
1790. Cowper, Odyss., XI. 19. Earthward he slopes again his westering wheels.
1795. Southey, Lett. Spain (1799), 34. Hills beyond hills,… part involved in shadow, and the more distant illumined by the westering sun.
1802. Leyden, Lord Soulis, xx. And bloody set the westering sun.
1831. Moore, Summer Fête, 132. Warned … by the daylight’s westering beam.
1859. Geo. Eliot, Adam Bede, liii. The low westering sun shone right on the shoulders of the old Binton Hills.
1894. Blackmore, Perlycross, vii. 56. By the light of the westering moon.
fig. 1851. Mrs. Browning, Casa Guidi Wind., I. 403. Learn The strong man’s impulse … and discern By his clear westering eye, the time of day.
1885–94. Bridges, Eros & Psyche, March xiv. Eros was Cupid named anew In westering aftertime of latin lore.
2. That moves in a westward direction. Of the wind: That shifts to the west.
1747. Collins, Ode Liberty, 84. Mona,… Where thousand Elfin Shapes abide, And Wight who checks the west’ring Tide.
1871. Swinburne, Songs bef. Sunrise, Eve of Rev., 66. Asia, that sawest their westering waters sweep With all the ships and spoils of time to carry.
1896. Kipling, Seven Seas, Three Sealers, 142. There comes no good o’ the westering wind that backs against the sun.
