Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

North \North\, a.
   Lying toward the north; situated at the north, or in a
   northern direction from the point of observation or
   reckoning; proceeding toward the north, or coming from the
   north.

   {North following}. See {Following}, a., 2.

   {North pole}, that point in the heavens, or on the earth,
      ninety degrees from the equator toward the north.

   {North preceding}. See {Following}, a., 2.

   {North star}, the star toward which the north pole of the
      earth very nearly points, and which accordingly seems
      fixed and immovable in the sky. The star [alpha] (alpha)
      of the Little Bear, is our present north star, being
      distant from the pole about 1[deg] 25', and from year to
      year approaching slowly nearer to it. It is called also
      {Cynosura}, {polestar}, and by astronomers, {Polaris}.