southeast by south: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowFormal, Technical (Nautical)
Quick answer
What does “southeast by south” mean?
A precise compass point, 33.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A precise compass point, 33.75° clockwise from due south and 16.875° south of due southeast.
A rare, highly specific navigational term denoting a direction intermediate between south-southeast and southeast. Used primarily in maritime and aeronautical contexts for precise course plotting.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The term is part of the traditional system used in British and American navigation.
Connotations
Technical, archaic, highly specialized. Conveys precision and nautical/meteorological expertise.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both varieties, confined to historical nautical texts, advanced navigation, and some meteorological reporting.
Grammar
How to Use “southeast by south” in a Sentence
[Wind/Current] is FROM [southeast by south]Set a course OF [southeast by south]The bearing TO the lighthouse is [southeast by south]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “southeast by south” in a Sentence
adverb
British English
- The ship was sailing southeast by south.
- The storm shifted southeast by south.
American English
- The ship was sailing southeast by south.
- The storm shifted southeast by south.
adjective
British English
- The southeast-by-south wind brought a distinct chill.
- We plotted a southeast-by-south course.
American English
- The southeast by south wind brought a distinct chill.
- We plotted a southeast by south course.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used only in historical studies of navigation or specialized meteorology.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Primary context. Used in traditional marine navigation, sailing, and occasionally in detailed weather forecasts for wind direction.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “southeast by south”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “southeast by south”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “southeast by south”
- Writing it as 'southeast-by-south' (hyphens are sometimes used but the standard form is without).
- Using it in everyday speech.
- Incorrectly ordering the words (e.g., 'south by southeast', which is a different point).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, they are different points on a 32-wind compass. South-southeast (SSE) is halfway between south and southeast. Southeast by south (SEbS) is one quarter of the way from southeast toward south.
Almost never in daily life. Its use is limited to formal maritime navigation, historical reenactment, reading classic sailing literature, or highly detailed meteorological observations.
The standard abbreviation in navigation is SEbS.
157.5° clockwise from true north. Southeast is 135°, and each 'point' (like 'by south') is 11.25°. So 135° + 11.25° + 11.25° = 157.5°.
A precise compass point, 33.
Southeast by south is usually formal, technical (nautical) in register.
Southeast by south: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsaʊθˈiːst baɪ ˈsaʊθ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsaʊθˈist baɪ ˈsaʊθ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(None specific to this term)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Remember the order: The main direction (SOUTHEAST) comes first, then the modifier 'by' and the direction it's leaning toward (SOUTH). So it's 'Southeast, but leaning a bit toward South'.
Conceptual Metaphor
DIRECTION IS A PRECISE POINT ON A CIRCLE (The conceptual metaphor treats abstract direction as a tangible, fixed location on a compass rose).
Practice
Quiz
In the phrase 'southeast by south', what does the word 'by' indicate?