north English · revision 3614

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 725, Beowulf (Old English norþ)|origins=gem-pro *nurtha-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /nɔːθ/, US /nɔːrθ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|north]], [[inh|ang|norþ|t=northwards, to the north]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) from [[gem-pro|*nurtha-]],^(Etymonline) which is of uncertain origin.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) Etymonline, Barnhart and Klein connect it with [[ine-pro|*ner-|t=left; below]], since north is on the left of someone facing the rising sun, citing Oscan [[m|osc|nertrak|t=left]] and Greek [[m|grc|νέρτερος|tr=nérteros|t=lower, infernal]];^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966) Old Irish [[m|sga|túath|t=left; northern]] shows the same idea.^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) Etymonline also mentions the notion that the sun is at its lowest in the north.^(Etymonline) Its relatives include [[nl|noord]], [[de|Nord]] and [[non|norðr]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) French [[m|fr|nord]] was borrowed from Old English, and Spanish [[m|es|norte]] and Italian [[m|it|nord]] from French.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966) It is related to [[Norse]], [[Nordic]] and [[Norman]].^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Northwards, in the north: Old English ''norþ'', about 725, in ''Beowulf'', where it also forms compounds.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The adjective is found on its own in 1131, in the ''Peterborough Chronicle''.^(Barnhart 1988) The noun, the northern point or direction, is late 12th century^(Etymonline) or probably before 1200, in Layamon.^(Barnhart 1988) ''Northward'' is from the 12th century, ''northerly'' from 1551, and ''northerner'' from the 19th century,^(Hoad 1986)^(Barnhart 1988) while ''northern'' goes back to Old English.^(Hoad 1986) The northern states of the US have been called ''the North'' since 1792.^(HTOED) The verb, “to move northward”, is recorded from 1850.^(HTOED)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 725 – Old English ''norþ'' (''Beowulf'').^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1131 – adjective (''Peterborough Chronicle'').^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * late 12th century – noun.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1551 – ''northerly''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1792 – the northern US states.^(HTOED)

+ * 1850 – verb, to move north.^(HTOED)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The direction to the left of someone facing the [[sunrise]]; the [[cardinal point]] opposite south.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A region lying in the north.^(AHD)

+ # ''(often capitalized)'' The northern part of a country or of the world.^(AHD)^(HTOED)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # In, toward, facing or coming from the north.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # In, from or toward the north.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[northbound]]

+ * [[northbridge]]

+ * [[northeaster]]

+ * [[norther]]

+ * [[northerly]]

+ * [[northern]]

+ * [[northerner]]

+ * [[northing]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[Norse]]

+ * [[south]]

+ * [[Nordic]]

+ * [[Norman]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}