Was there an alternative adjective to “clockwise” other than “the rotation you take around left hand”?

Also, how did all watch companies around the world agree on what the direction of “clockwise” is?

    • red@feddit.de
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      1 year ago

      Sunwise, as it was based on the movement of the sun during day (in the Northern hemisphere). As watch faces were modelled after sundials, sunwise and clockwise describe the same direction.

      Turnwise is a word invented by Pratchett for a book, but it’s clearly based on sunwise. He also used widdershins in his book, which is indeed the unmodified antonym to sunwise.

      • megasin1@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Not just any book. The discworld series. It’s the direction the disc rotates! He has so many easy to miss spots of genius. Amongst many easy to see spots of genius

    • GreatFord@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      Deosil (sunwise) was the opposite of widdershins (against the usual). Both had a wide range of uses too, not just directionality.

    • xpinchx@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Was it Name of the Wind or Wise Man’s Fear? I just read both of those and I remember looking up one of the words and going down a Wikipedia rabbit hole.

        • xpinchx@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Well shit… those are the only two books that I read recently, maybe a similar word… I left my kindle at home today I know that keeps track of words I’ve looked up and now I’m curious