Southwestwardly

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. In a manner that is oriented towards the direction diagonally between south and west
2. Relating to movement or position aimed at the southwestern quadrant of a geographical location
3. Moving or facing toward the compass point halfway between south and west

Etymology: "Southwestwardly" is a straightforward formation: it combines "southwestward," meaning toward the southwest, with the adverb-forming suffix "-ly." The base "southwestward" is itself built from "southwest" plus "-ward," the English suffix meaning "in the direction of," which has been attached to compass directions since Old English. So the word stacks three layers: a compass point, a directional suffix, and an adverbial ending. The extra "-ly" is what makes the term unusual. English speakers usually say "southwestward" alone, and "southwestwardly" is a less common variant, appearing mainly in technical or descriptive writing where the writer wants a manner-of-motion adverb rather than a plain direction. Many "-wardly" forms follow the same pattern, such as "northwardly" or "eastwardly," which are used in weather reports and navigation.

Synonyms: southwest