south·ern 
(sŭthərn)
(sŭthərn)adj.
1. Situated in, toward, or facing the south.
2. Coming from the south: southern breezes.
3. Native to or growing in the south.
4. often Southern Of, relating to, or characteristic of southern regions or the South.
5. Being south of the equator.
[Middle English southerne, from Old English sūtherne; see sāwel- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]
southern·ness′ n.