Etymology: In sense 1 < southen (in southen-wind n. at southen adv. 1), apparently reanalysed as south adv. + -en suffix⁴; for a parallel development in other Germanic languages see discussion at southen adv. In sense 2 perhaps independently < south adv. + -en suffix⁴. Compare northen adj., easten adj., westen adj.With southen sea n. at Compounds compare westen sea n. at westen adj. Compounds, easten sea n. at easten adj. Compounds.

Etymology: Cognate with Old Dutch sūthene from the south (in sūthenewind ; Middle Dutch sūden , sūdene , zūden from or in the south), Old Saxon sūðan from the south (Middle Low German sǖden to the south), Old High German sundan (also sundanān ) from the south, sundana from or in the south (Middle High German sunden , sūden from, in, or to the south (also sundenān from the south)), Old Icelandic sunnan from the south, Old Swedish sunnan from, in, or to the south (Swedish sunnan , now archaic), Old Danish sunnæn from, in, or to the south (Danish sønden , now archaic or regional) < the Germanic base of south adv. + a Germanic suffix forming adverbs expressing motion ‘from’ (see nethen adv.). In sense 2 perhaps after use in phrases. Use as a noun (in sense ‘the south’) is attested as a later development in several Germanic languages (compare the forms listed at south adv., adj., n., and prep.). Compare besouth adv. and prep., and also northen adv., easten adv., westen adv.With Old English sūðan-wind compare Old Dutch sūthenewind (Middle Dutch sūdenwint , Dutch zuidenwind ), Middle Low German sǖdenwint , Old High German sundanwint (Middle High German sundenwint ), Old Icelandic sunnanvindr , Swedish sunnanvind , Danish søndenvind ; in later use frequently with the first element reanalysed either as noun or adjective (compare southen adj.).