South | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

South, n.

noun

n. [A-S. sūdh, for sundh, sunnadh, from sunne, the sun; O. H. Ger. sund, Icel. suðr, sunnr, N. H. Ger. süd, Süden, Dan. syd, syden, sönden, Sw. syd, söder, sunnan, D. zuid, zuiden; Fr. & Sp. sud, Pg. sul. Cf. SOUTHERN.]

Sense 1. The point of compass, or the region, directly opposite to the north; the region or direction to the right of a person who faces the east.

Sense 2. Any particular land considered as opposed to the north. “The queen of the south.” Matt. xii. 42.

Sense 3. A wind that blows from the south. [Obs.]

Like the sweet south, That breathes upon a bank of violets, Stealing and giving odor. Shak.

☞ Such is the reading of many editions of Shakespeare; but the word in the original is sound (meaning wind, the effect being metonymically put for the cause), and this has been restored by some recent editors. The change from sound to south was introduced by Pope.

South, a.

adjective

Lying toward the south; situated at the south, or in a southern direction from the point of observation or reckoning.

South Sea tea (Bot.), an evergreen tree of the genus Ilex (I. vomitoria), the leaves of which are used by the North American Indians for making a kind of medicinal drink. Loudon.

South, v. i.

verbintransitive

v. i. [imp. & p. p. SOUTHED (southd); p. pr. & vb. n. SOUTHING (south'ing).]

To turn or move toward the south; to veer from the east or west toward the south.
(Astron.) To come to the meridian; to cross the north and south line; — said chiefly of the moon; as, the moon souths at nine.

South, adv.

adverb

Sense 1. Toward the south; southward; as, to go south; a ship sails south. 2. From the south; as, the wind blows south.