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north

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north

[nawrth]
–noun
1. a cardinal point of the compass, lying in the plane of the meridian and to the left of a person facing the rising sun. Abbreviation: N
2. the direction in which this point lies.
3. (usually initial capital letter) a region or territory situated in this direction.
4. the North, the northern area of the United States, esp. the states that fought to preserve the Union in the Civil War, lying to the north of the Ohio River, and usually including Missouri and Maryland.
5. (initial capital letter) North Country.
6. the north wind.
–adjective
7. in, toward, or facing, the north: the north gate.
8. directed or proceeding toward the north: a north course.
9. coming from the north: a north wind.
10. (usually initial capital letter) designating the northern part of a region, nation, country, etc.: North Atlantic.
–adverb
11. to, toward, or in the north: sailing north.

Origin:
bef. 900; ME, OE, c. D noord, G Nord, ON northr

North

[nawrth]
–noun
1. Christopher, pen name of John Wilson.
2. Frederick, 2nd Earl of Guil⋅ford [gil-ferd] (“Lord North”), 1732–92, British statesman: prime minister 1770–82.
3. Sir Thomas, 1535?–1601?, English translator.

North River

–noun
a part of the Hudson River between NE New Jersey and SE New York.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To north
north   (nôrth)   
n.  
  1. Abbr. N

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

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

    3. The northern part of the earth.

    4. The northern part of a region or country.

  2. An area or region lying in the north.

  3. often North

    1. The northern part of the earth.

    2. 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.

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

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

adv.  In, from, or toward the north.

[Middle English, from Old English; see ner-1 in 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 led to the rebellion of the American colonies.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

north 
O.E. norð, from P.Gmc. *nurtha- (cf. O.N. norðr, O.Fris. north, M.Du. nort, Du. noord, Ger. nord), possibly ult. from PIE *ner- "left," also "below," as north is to the left when one faces the rising sun (cf. Skt. narakah "hell," Gk. enerthen "from beneath," Oscan-Umbrian nertrak "left"). The same notion underlies Ir. tuaisceart "north." The usual word for "north" in the Romance languages is ultimately from English, cf. O.Fr. north (Fr. nord), borrowed from O.E. norð; It., Sp. norte are borrowed from O.Fr. North-easter "wind blowing from the northeast" is from 1794. North American first used 1766, by Franklin. Northwest Passage first attested 1600. Northerner in U.S. geo-political sense is attested from 1831. North Sea in O.E. meant the Bristol Channel; transf. c.1290 to what had been called the "German Ocean." Northern lights "aurora borealis" first recorded 1721. North Star "Pole Star" is M.E. norþe sterre (1398, cf. M.Du. noirdstern, Ger. nordstern).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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