Etymologically
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southeast

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 13:51. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˌsaʊθˈiːst/, /ˌsaʊˈiːst/[1]

Etymology

It is Middle English south-est, from Old English sūþēast, from south and east.[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Toward or from the southeast, as an adverb: Old English in Etymonline, before the 12th century in MWU.[2][3]

Semantic evolution

As a noun, the direction or region to the south and east, it is from about 1300,[2] and as an adjective, lying toward the southeast, from the late 14th century.[2] Johnson (1755) records it.[4] A southeaster, a wind or gale from the southeast, is by 1797.[2]

Timeline

  • Old English – the adverb.[2]
  • c. 1300 – the noun.[2]
  • late 14th century – the adjective.[2]
  • 1797 – southeaster.[2]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. The direction or point of the compass halfway between south and east.
  2. (the Southeast) The southeastern part of a country or region.

Adjective

  1. In, toward or facing the southeast; of a wind, blowing from the southeast.

Adverb

  1. Toward the southeast.

Word family

  • southeastern
  • southeaster
  • southwesterly
  • southwestern
  • south-southwest
  • west-southwest
  • southwest by west
  • southwest by south

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ Johnson, Samuel (1755), A Dictionary of the English Language, London; 4th ed. 1773; Johnson's Dictionary Online, ed. Beth Rapp Young et al.