Etimology
From Middle English south, from Old English sūþ, from Proto-West Germanic *sunþr, from Proto-Germanic *sunþrą. Compare West Frisian súd, Dutch zuid, German Süd, Danish syd.
noun
south (countable and uncountable, plural souths)
The direction towards the pole to the right-hand side of someone facing east, specifically 180°, or (on another celestial object) the direction towards the pole lying on the southern side of the invariable plane.
The southern region or area; the inhabitants thereof. [circa 1300]
(ecclesiastical) In a church: the direction to the right-hand side of a person facing the altar.
(physics) The negative or south pole of a magnet
Examples
Alternative form: S
Germany is south of Denmark.
Just before independence the military garrison in the south rebelled and that was the beginning of a civil war between the north and the south ...
What was said [prior to 2003] is that the south rebelled. Even then; rebelled? What rebelled? Who was supporting Saddam other than the people of the south?
When Nimeiri ended that autonomy in 1983, the south took up arms. This Second Sudanese Civil War ended only after four years of formal talks […]
If candidates stand on the liturgical south facing the presider and liturgical assistants on the liturgical north, it will present better visual lines for the congregation than if they stand facing east and west with their backs toward the congregation.
It is to be situated in the chancel on the right side of the church.
It was moved from its original location in 1507 hardly a decade after it was completed, to the bottom of the liturgical south aisle along with the free-standing chapel of the relic of the lance.
[…] Throughout the book I refer directionally to the altar and chancel of St. Andrew's as situated at ecclesiastical east , not geographical or magnetic southeast. Thus, […] The north side faces the river , and the south side, Ashley River Road. […] The pulpit and reading desk are at ecclesiastical northeast, and the organ pipes and 1706 memorial at ecclesiastical south. At St. Andrew's, ecclesiastical north, south, east, and west correspond to geographical northeast, southwest, southeast, and northwest. Unless otherwise indicated, compass directions given in this book are ecclesiastical, not geographical, reference points.
The new St Mary's Anglican Church, Walkerville, has an attached rectory flanking to the liturgical south and an attached parish hall flanking to the liturgical north, both half-timbered in the Tudor Revival style. [Referring to a church that is oriented SSE, making "south" WSW]
Related words
coordinate terms
down south
east by south
Global South
head south
magnetic south
north and south
southbound
south by east
south by west
southeast
southed
southerly
southern
southerner
southing
southland, Southland
south-seeking pole
south side, southside
south-southeast
south-southwest
south temperate zone
southward
southwardly
southwards
southwest
south wind
adjective
south (not comparable)
Toward the south; southward.
(meteorology, of wind) from the south.
Of or pertaining to the south; southern.
Pertaining to the part of a corridor used by southbound traffic.
(ecclesiastical) Designating, or situated in, the liturgical south.
Examples
south highway 1
Throughout the book I refer directionally to the altar and chancel of St. Andrew's as situated at ecclesiastical east , not geographical or magnetic southeast. Thus, […] The north side faces the river , and the south side, Ashley River Road.
adverb
south (not comparable)
Toward the south; southward.
Downward.
In an adverse direction or trend. (Mostly in go south.)
(meteorology) Of wind, from the south.
Examples
His fortunes have been going south ever since he was tricked into investing in that ostrich farm.
verb
south (third-person singular simple present souths, present participle southing, simple past and past participle southed)
To turn or move toward the south; to veer toward the south.
(astronomy) To come to the meridian; to cross the north and south line.
Examples
The moon souths at nine.