Easterly is a commonly used adverb which refers to a direction or wind blowing towards the east. The word is spelled as "iːstəli" in IPA phonetic transcription. The vowel sound "iː" represents the long 'ee' sound, whereas the consonant "t" is pronounced with a soft 'tuh' sound. The word ends with the suffix "-ly" which changes the adjective 'easter' into an adverb. The spelling of 'easterly' may seem tricky, but its pronunciation is easy once you know the IPA transcription.
Easterly is an adjective that describes something positioned, situated, or directed towards the east, which is the direction toward which the sun rises. It is derived from the noun "east," which refers to the cardinal direction located to the right of a person facing north, or the direction at 90° to the right of north on a compass.
In terms of geography, an easterly location refers to a place located in the eastern part of a specified region, typically relative to another place or point of reference. It can describe the position of countries, cities, or landmarks that are found in the eastern part of a continent, state, or area.
When used to describe weather patterns or wind, easterly refers to winds that blow from the east. These winds travel in an easterly direction, blowing from the east towards the west. Easterly winds are commonly associated with the movement of weather systems or air masses, and their speeds and strengths can vary depending on the specific conditions.
In maritime contexts, an easterly course or route is one that takes a vessel towards the east, often indicating the direction of travel between different ports or destinations.
Overall, easterly is a term that denotes the direction or position towards the east, with applications ranging from geography to weather patterns, navigation, and more.
• Situated toward the east; looking toward the east.
• In the direction of east.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word easterly originated from the Middle English word eestwardli. It is a combination of two elements: eestward, meaning eastward in Old English, and the suffix -li, which means like or in the direction of. Therefore, easterly essentially means in the direction of the east.