north

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The direction that is on your left when you face the rising sun; one of the four main points of the compass.

   Minnesota is in the north of the United States.

2. 2
   adv

   Toward or in the north.

   We drove north for several hours to reach the mountains.

3. 3
   adj

   In, facing, or coming from the north.

   A cold north wind blew across the fields.

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…

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