south

noun

1. 1

   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.

   Germany is south of Denmark.

2. 2

   The southern region or area; the inhabitants thereof.

   Just before independence (in 1955) 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 […]

3. 3

   In a church: the direction to the right-hand side of a person facing the altar.

   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 (i.e., liturgical south) 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.

   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]

4. 4

   The negative or south pole of a magnet

adjective

1. 1

   Toward the south; southward.

2. 2

   from the south.

3. 3

   Of or pertaining to the south; southern.

4. 4

   Pertaining to the part of a corridor used by southbound traffic.

   south highway 1

5. 5

   Designating, or situated in, the liturgical south.

   Throughout the book I refer directionally to the altar and chancel of St. Andrew's as situated at ecclesiastical east (to avoid overcomplicating matters), not geographical or magnetic southeast. Thus, […] The north side faces the river (beyond the subdivision behind the church), and the south side, Ashley River Road.

adverb

1. 1

   Toward the south; southward.

   When folks from Nags Head want to get away from it all, they head south—and so did I, across the bridge over Oregon Inlet to reach Hatteras Island.

2. 2

   Downward.

3. 3

   figurativeIn an adverse direction or trend.

   His fortunes have been going south ever since he was tricked into investing in that ostrich farm.

4. 4

   Of wind, from the south.

verb

1. 1

   To turn or move toward the south; to veer toward the south.

2. 2

   To come to the meridian; to cross the north and south line.

   The moon souths at nine.

Forms

plural

souths

comparative

further south, farther south

superlative

furthest south, farthest south

past tense

southed

past participle

southed

present participle

southing

third person singular

souths