Southward
/ˈsaʊθ.wərd/noun
Toward the south; in a southern direction.
Did you know?Its second half, -ward, comes from Old English *weard*, meaning “turning toward” or “guarding,” the same ancient element behind *forward*, *backward*, and *toward*.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*seu-
“to turn, bend”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*sunþaz
“south”
Old English
English
sūþ
“south”
Old English
English
weard
“toward; in the direction of”
Middle English
English
southward
“toward the south”
Modern English
English
southward
“toward the south”