Word: north Part of Speech: adj Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *nér Proto-Indo-European *-teros Proto-Indo-European *nŕ̥t(e)ros Proto-Germanic *nurþraz Proto-West Germanic *norþr Old English norþ Middle English north English north From Middle English north, from Old English norþ, from Proto-West Germanic *norþr, from Proto-Germanic *nurþrą, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *nér (“below (the surface)”). The meaning developed either from "region where the sun is below (the earth)" or from "left side of someone who turns to the east when praying". Cognates Cognate with various Germanic counterparts such as Yola noardth, nordh (“north”), North Frisian noor, nord, nuurd, Nuurđ (“north”), Saterland Frisian Noude, Nudde (“north”), West Frisian noard (“north”), Dutch noord (“north”), German Nord (“north”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, and Norwegian Nynorsk nord (“north”), Faroese and Icelandic norður (“north”), Swedish nord, norr (“north”); also with Ancient Greek νέρτερος (nérteros), ἐνέρτερος (enérteros, “below”), Russian нора (nora, “hole”), Lithuanian nėrõvė (“mermaid, nymph”), Oscan 𐌍𐌄𐌓𐌕𐌓𐌀𐌊 (nertrak, “left”), Umbrian nertru (“left”), Sanskrit नरक (naraka, “hell”), Tocharian B ñor (“below”). Pronunciation: /nɔːθ/, /noːθ/, /noɹθ/, [no̞ɹθ], /noɹt/ 1. Of or pertaining to the north; northern. Labels: not-comparable Example: He lived in north Germany. Example: She entered through the north gate. 2. Toward the north; northward. Labels: not-comparable Example: The most dangerous ones are those that develop during October and November and that follow a north path affecting the western part of the island. 3. Of wind, from the north. Labels: not-comparable Example: The north wind was cold. 4. Pertaining to the part of a corridor used by northbound traffic. Labels: not-comparable Example: north highway 1 Example: Traffic was doing the speed limit on North I-45 one minute and had come to a stand-still the next. 5. Designating, or situated in, the liturgical north (in a church, the direction to the left-hand side of a person facing the altar). Labels: not-comparable Example: […] the high church had liked its clergy to preside at the Eucharist in an ad orientem position; the low church advocated what was called the north end position; but the Liturgical Movement asked the priest to take a basilical position, facing liturgical west, and now both Anglican factions could agree on this third position without either of them losing face. Example: 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. […] 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. 6. More or greater than. Labels: colloquial, not-comparable Example: The wedding ended up costing north of $50,000. Example: The price you're offering had better be north of the highest price this company has ever traded for.