south-ˈwestern, a. and n.
[OE. s{uacu}ðwesterne (see south adv. and western a.), = OHG. sundwestrôni.]
A. adj.
1. Of the wind: Blowing from the south-west.
| c 1000 Apollonius of Tyre (Thorpe) 11 Se angrislica suð⁓westerna wind him onᵹean stod. 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. v. 14 Þis souþ-Westerne wynt on a Seterday at euen. 1835 M. Somerville Connex. Phys. Sci. xv. (ed. 2) 147 The western and south-western gales, so prevalent in our latitudes. 1894 Gladstone Horace, Odes i. xiv. 19 Seest not? thy mast How rent by stiff southwestern blast? |
2. a. Situated or extending towards the south-west; of or pertaining to the south-west.
| 1828–32 Webster s.v., To sail a southwestern course. 1839 Penny Cycl. XV. 345/1 The south-western coast of the island of Sumatra. 1863 W. Barnes Dorset Gloss. 9 The main marks of south-western English. 1888 M. E. Braddon Fatal Three i. v, It is too warm in this south-western country. |
b. U.S. Of, pertaining to, or characteristic of the south-western states.
| 1806 New Eng. Palladium (Boston) 30 July 2/1 The President appoints the Legislative Councils in our South⁓western Territories. 1832 Jrnl. Gen. Convention Prot. Episc. Church 51 Delegates have been chosen to co-operate with Alabama and Louisiana in organizing the contemplated South-Western Diocese. 1973 J. M. White Garden Game 150 The walls were whitewashed in simple, South-Western style. |
B. n. A wave from the south-west. rare—1.
| 1872 Tennyson Gareth & Lynette 1117 Gareth..could not wholly bring him under, more Than loud Southwesterns, rolling ridge on ridge, The buoy that rides at sea. |
Hence south-ˈwesterner, one belonging to the south-west (of the United States, etc.). Also south-ˈwesternmost adv.
| 1862 Ansted Channel Isl. i. iii. 49 The south-westernmost angle. 1888 Encycl. Brit. XXIII. 799/1 The south-westernmost portion of the region. 1888 Cent. Mag. Feb. 502/2 The bulk of the cowboys..are South-westerners. |