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north

(nôrth)

1. Abbr. N

a. The direction along a meridian 90° counterclockwise from east; the direction to the left of sunrise.

b. The cardinal point on the mariner's compass located at 0°.

2. An area or region lying in the north.

3. often North

a. The northern part of the earth.

b. The northern part of a region or country.

4. North The northern part of the United States, especially the states that fought for the Union in the Civil War.

5. The side of a church which is to the left as one faces the altar. Also called liturgical north.

adj.

1. To, toward, of, facing, or in the north.

2. Originating in or coming from the north: a cold north wind.

adv.

1. In, from, or toward the north.

2. Slang Into a better condition, as of increased value: an investment that went steadily north until the market crash.

[Middle English, from Old English; see ner-¹ in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

North, Frederick Second Earl of Guilford. Known as "Lord North." 1732-1792.

British politician who served as prime minister (1770-1782) under George III. His policies helped provoke the rebellion of the American colonies.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices