Intercardinality

Intercardinality refers to the points on a compass or a directional system that lie halfway between the cardinal directions. The cardinal directions are North, East, South, and West. The intercardinal directions are Northeast, Southeast, Southwest, and Northwest. These directions are formed by bisecting the angle between two adjacent cardinal directions. For example, Northeast is located exactly between North and East.

The intercardinal directions are also sometimes called ordinal directions. They provide a more refined way to describe direction than just the cardinal points. In navigation, cartography, and meteorology, these intermediate points are essential for precise location and movement descriptions. For instance, a wind blowing from the Northeast is distinct from one blowing from the North or the East.

The concept of intercardinality is found in various cultures and historical contexts. Many traditional compass roses feature these eight main points. The order of the cardinal and intercardinal directions follows a clockwise progression around the compass: North, Northeast, East, Southeast, South, Southwest, West, Northwest, and back to North. Understanding intercardinality is fundamental to interpreting directional information accurately.