south by east
1
8.5
- noun
- Specialized
:
sur-este
- During our navigation class, we learned how to steer south by east using the compass.
Examples
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To find the island, we need to sail south by east from the lighthouse.
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You will plot a course south by east to the line... and so southeast to pick up the Guinea current.
-
The treasure map indicates that the cave is located south by east of the old oak tree.
Synonyms
A compass direction slightly east of due south
Surface Forms
Morphology
The components 'south' and 'east' clearly signal cardinal directions and 'by' suggests a nearby/adjacent relation, so a learner could plausibly infer 'slightly east of south' from the parts. However, the precise technical meaning (the specific one-point/11°15′ offset) relies on compass-point conventions and is specialized vocabulary that a B1 learner would not reliably predict without prior exposure.
Etymology
South by east comes from old sailors and map makers who divided the compass into many small steps. It literally means one small step toward east from south, so it tells you to go 'a little east of south'.