southward
UK: ˈsaʊθwəd | US: ˈsaʊθwərd
adj. directed or moving toward the south
adv. in a direction toward the south
southward = south<direction> + ward<toward>
- south: From Old English sūþ, meaning "the southern direction."
- ward: From Old English -weard, a suffix denoting direction or orientation, meaning "toward."
Etymology Origin:
The word southward combines south, an ancient Germanic term for the cardinal direction, with -ward, a directional suffix also of Germanic origin. This pairing creates a clear, logical construction indicating movement or orientation toward the south. The suffix -ward is widely used in English to form directional adverbs (e.g., northward, homeward), preserving its original function from Old English.
The migrating birds flew southward for the winter.
They set off on a southward journey along the coast.
The river flows southward into the sea.
The compass needle pointed southward.
The storm is moving southward at 20 miles per hour.