southeast by east: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low (technical/archaic)Technical / Nautical / Archaic
Quick answer
What does “southeast by east” mean?
A precise compass point halfway between southeast and east-southeast, specifically 123°45′ clockwise from north.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A precise compass point halfway between southeast and east-southeast, specifically 123°45′ clockwise from north.
Used primarily in nautical navigation, aviation, surveying, and meteorology to denote a highly specific direction.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Usage is equally archaic/technical in both variants.
Connotations
Strongly connotes traditional seafaring, sailing, and precise navigation. Can sound antiquated.
Frequency
Extremely low in modern general use. Found almost exclusively in historical texts, nautical manuals, or poetic contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “southeast by east” in a Sentence
[Ship/Vehicle] + [verb of motion] + southeast by eastThe + [wind/current] + is + from + southeast by eastVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “southeast by east” in a Sentence
adverb
British English
- The frigate proceeded southeast by east to avoid the treacherous shoals.
American English
- The storm is moving southeast by east at 15 knots.
adjective
British English
- The ship maintained a southeast-by-east heading throughout the night watch.
American English
- We recorded a southeast-by-east wind direction at 0600 hours.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used historically in geography, navigation studies, or when analyzing old maps and logs.
Everyday
Extremely unlikely. Would be misunderstood by most speakers.
Technical
Primary context: nautical navigation, aviation (less common), meteorology (wind direction), surveying.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “southeast by east”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “southeast by east”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “southeast by east”
- Using it to describe a general area (e.g., 'the house is in the southeast by east of the city').
- Confusing it with 'east-southeast' (which is 112°30′).
- Using it in modern non-technical writing where a simple 'southeast' is meant.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Rarely. In modern contexts, magnetic or true bearings in degrees (e.g., 124°) are standard. It survives in historical re-enactment, some traditional sailing contexts, and in the study of historical documents.
They are two distinct points on the 32-point compass. 'Southeast by east' (SEbE) is one full point (11.25°) east of southeast (135°), placing it at 123.75°. 'East-southeast' (ESE) is one point south of east (90°), placing it at 112.5°. They are 11.25° apart.
To evoke a specific historical, nautical, or precise technical atmosphere. It suggests a time or profession where such precise directional language was critical for navigation, often before the widespread use of digital compasses and GPS.
The traditional nautical abbreviation is 'SEbE'.
A precise compass point halfway between southeast and east-southeast, specifically 123°45′ clockwise from north.
Southeast by east is usually technical / nautical / archaic in register.
Southeast by east: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsaʊθˈiːst baɪ ˈiːst/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsaʊθˈiːst baɪ ˈiːst/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
"Southeast, but lean your cheek by the East wind." (Helps remember 'southeast' is modified 'by east').
Conceptual Metaphor
DIRECTION IS A PRECISE POINT ON A CIRCLE / NAVIGATION IS A FINELY DIVIDED SYSTEM.
Practice
Quiz
In modern terms, 'southeast by east' is closest to which bearing?