Re: Re: Keeping it private.
  By: Wilfred van Velzen to Bj”rn Felten on Sat Jun 09 2018 12:36 pm

 BF>> We are gradually losing the proper form in Swedish as well. Only old
 BF>> people, educated in the mid 20th century, still use the "old" proper
 BF>> form.

 WV> Is it still "the proper" form, if only a minority uses it?

Hi and yes, although dated.  Took me a little to even see what folks were
nattering about but then I come from the Smoky Mountains. One of the few areas
left where widdershins is a real word with several meanings based on context of
use.

I don't know or care what a proper dictionary will tell you about
'widdershins'. In real use is is:

1- The back hairs on the legs of a mule/horse (literal)
2- Means behind you from the direction you are going
3- Used direcionally can mean you missed your turn and need to go back
4- Can mean 'off in the middle of no place' (not neccessarily behind you)
5- Addlepated (senile), also 'lost' and can mean 'deep in thought'
6- To look behind you (in life or literally) (abbreviated 'widders')
7 -The other way (not where you are headed)

'I was out widdershins' (I was lost in the woods or very deep in the country)

'Go widders sumat (some at) a long shanks walk (5-8 miles) and take the other
fork' (go back 5-8 miles and you missed your turn there)

'She's widdershins' (she's lost or no longer sharp minded, or deep in thought)

'You are all widdershins, ain't ya?' (you are lost.  Implied, about to
be helping with directions).  

'You be widdershins' is a short direct way to say let me help you.

Don't expect the average USA person to find any of that normal.  It ain't! 
It's a relic of language in a small area of the world, settled mostly by 1700
with English and Scotts.

 xxcarol
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