East EAST, n. [L. oriens, this word may belong to the root of
hoise,hoist.] 1. The point in the heavens, where the sun is seen
to rise at the equinox, or when it is in the equinoctial, or the
corresponding point on the earth; one of the four cardinal points. The
east and the west are the points where the equator intersects the
horizon. But to persons under the equinoctial line, that line constitutes
east and west. 2. The eastern parts of the earth; the regions or
countries which lie east of Europe, or other country. In this indefinite
sense, the word is applied to Asia Minor, Syria, Chaldea, Persia, India,
China, etc. We speak of the riches of the east, the diamonds and pearls
of the east, the kings of the east. The gorgeous east, with richest
hand, Pours on her kings barbaric,pearl and gold. EAST,
a. Towards the rising sun; or towards the point where the sun rises,
when in the equinoctial; as the east gate; the east border; the east
side. The east wind is a wind that blows from the east.
east
adj 1: situated in or facing or moving toward the east [ant:
west]
n 1: the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees [syn:
east, due east, eastward, E]
2: the countries of Asia [syn: East, Orient]
3: the region of the United States lying to the north of the
Ohio River and to the east of the Mississippi River [syn:
East, eastern United States]
4: the direction corresponding to the eastward cardinal compass
point
5: a location in the eastern part of a country, region, or city
adv 1: to, toward, or in the east; "we travelled east for
several miles"; "located east of Rome"
east
O.E. east, from P.Gmc. *aus-to-, *austra- "east, toward the sunrise"
(cf. Du. oost, Ger. Ost, O.N. austr "from the east"), from PIE *aus-
"dawn" (cf. Skt. ushas "dawn," Gk. aurion "morning," O.Ir. usah,
Lith. auszra "dawn," L. aurora "dawn," auster "south"), lit. "to
shine." The east is the direction in which dawn breaks. For shift in
sense in L., see Australia. Meaning "the eastern part of the world"
(from Europe) is from c.1300. Cold War use of East for "communist states"
first recorded 1951. Natives of eastern Germany and the Baltics were
known as easterlings 16c.-18c. The east wind in Biblical Palestine was
scorching and destructive (cf. Ezek. xvii.10); in New England it is
bleak, wet, unhealthful. East End of London so called from 1846; East
Side of Manhattan so called from 1882; Eastern Shore of Maryland and
Virginia so called from 1624. East Indies (India and Southeast Asia)
so called 1598 to distinguish them from the West Indies.
east I. adverbEtymology: Middle English est, from Old English ēast;
akin to Old High German ōstar to the east, Latin aurora
dawn, Greek ēōs, heōsDate: before 12th century
to, toward, or in the east II. adjectiveDate: before 12th century 1. situated toward or at the east
<an east window> 2. coming from the east <an
east wind>
III. nounDate: before 12th century 1.a. the general direction of sunrise ; the direction toward
the right of one facing north b. the compass point directly opposite
to west
2.capitalizeda. regions lying to the east of a
specified or implied point of orientation b. regions having a
culture derived from ancient non-European especially Asian areas
3. the altar end of a church 4.often capitalizeda. the one of four positions at 90-degree intervals that lies to
the east or at the right of a diagram b. a person (as a bridge
player) occupying this position in the course of a specified activity
east n., adj., & adv. --n. 1 a the point of the horizon where the sun rises at the equinoxes (cardinal point 90° to the right of north). b the compass point corresponding to this. c the
direction in which this lies. 2 (usu. the East) a the regions or countries lying to the east of Europe. b the Communist States of eastern Europe. 3 the eastern part of a country, town,
etc. 4 (East) Bridge a player occupying the position designated 'east'. --adj. 1 towards, at, near, or facing east. 2 coming from the east (east wind). --adv. 1 towards, at, or near
the east. 2 (foll. by of) further east than. Phrases and idioms: East End the part of London east of the City as far as the River Lea. East Ender an inhabitant of the East End. East
Indiaman hist. a large ship engaged in trade with the East Indies. East Indies the islands etc. east of India, esp. the Malay archipelago. east-north (or -south) -east the direction or compass point
midway between east and north-east (or south-east). to the east (often foll. by of) in an easterly direction. Etymology: OE east- f. Gmc
east
also EastFrequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1. Theeast is the direction where the sun rises.
...the vast swamps which lie to the east of the River Nile...The principal range runs east to west.N-UNCOUNT: also the N
2. Theeastof a place, country, or region is the part which is in the east.
...a village in the east of the country...N-SING: usu the N, oft N of n
3. If you go east, you travel towards the east.
To drive, go east on Route 9.ADV: ADV after v
4. Something that is eastof a place is positioned to the east of it.
...just east of the center of town.ADV: usu ADV of n
5. The east edge, corner, or part of a place or country is the part which is towards
the east.
...a low line of hills running along the east coast.ADJ: ADJ n
6. East is used in the names of some countries, states, and regions in the east of a
larger area
He had been on safari in East Africa with his son.ADJ: ADJ n
7. An east wind is a wind that blows from the east.
ADJ
8. The East is used to refer to the southern and eastern part of Asia, including India,
China, and Japan.
Every so often, a new martial art arrives from the East.N-SING: the N
9.
see alsoMiddle East, Far East
east
i:st n., adj., & adv. --n. 1 a the point of the horizon where the
sun rises at the equinoxes (cardinal point 90Û to the right of north). b the
compass point corresponding to this. c the direction in which this lies. 2
(usu. the East) a the regions or countries lying to the east of Europe. b
the Communist States of eastern Europe. 3 the eastern part of a country,
town, etc. 4 (East) Bridge a player occupying the position designated
'east'. --adj. 1 towards, at, near, or facing east. 2 coming from the east
(east wind). --adv. 1 towards, at, or near the east. 2 (foll. by of) further
east than. øEast End the part of London east of the City as far as the River
Lea. East Ender an inhabitant of the East End. East Indiaman hist. a large ship
engaged in trade with the East Indies. East Indies the islands etc. east of
India, esp. the Malay archipelago. east-north (or -south) -east the direction
or compass point midway between east and north-east (or south-east). to the
east (often foll. by of) in an easterly direction. [OE east- f. Gmc]
East \East\, a.
Toward the rising sun; or toward the point where the sun
rises when in the equinoctial; as, the east gate; the east
border; the east side; the east wind is a wind that blows
from the east.
East \East\, n. [OE. est, east, AS. e['a]st; akin to D. oost,
oosten, OHG. ?stan, G. ost, osten, Icel. austr, Sw. ost, Dan.
["o]st, ["o]sten, Lith. auszra dawn, L. aurora (for ausosa),
Gr. ?, ?, ?, Skr. ushas; cf. Skr. ush to burn, L. urere.
????, ???. Cf. Aurora, Easter, Sterling.]
1. The point in the heavens where the sun is seen to rise at
the equinox, or the corresponding point on the earth; that
one of the four cardinal points of the compass which is in
a direction at right angles to that of north and south,
and which is toward the right hand of one who faces the
north; the point directly opposite to the west.
The east began kindle. --E. Everett.
2. The eastern parts of the earth; the regions or countries
which lie east of Europe; the orient. In this indefinite
sense, the word is applied to Asia Minor, Syria, Chaldea,
Persia, India, China, etc.; as, the riches of the East;
the diamonds and pearls of the East; the kings of the
East.
The gorgeous East, with richest hand, Showers on her
kings barbaric pearl and gold. --Milton.
3. (U. S. Hist. and Geog.) Formerly, the part of the United
States east of the Alleghany Mountains, esp. the Eastern,
or New England, States; now, commonly, the whole region
east of the Mississippi River, esp. that which is north of
Maryland and the Ohio River; -- usually with the definite
article; as, the commerce of the East is not independent
of the agriculture of the West.
East by north, East by south, according to the notation
of the mariner's compass, that point which lies 111/4[deg]
to the north or south, respectively, of the point due
east.
East-northeast, East-southeast, that which lies
221/2[deg] to the north or south of east, or half way
between east and northeast or southeast, respectively. See
Illust. of Compass.
East
(1.) The orient (mizrah); the rising of the sun. Thus "the east
country" is the country lying to the east of Syria, the Elymais
(Zech. 8:7).
(2). Properly what is in front of one, or a country that is
before or in front of another; the rendering of the word
_kedem_. In pointing out the quarters, a Hebrew always looked
with his face toward the east. The word _kedem_ is used when the
four quarters of the world are described (Gen. 13:14; 28:14);
and _mizrah_ when the east only is distinguished from the west
(Josh. 11:3; Ps. 50:1; 103:12, etc.). In Gen. 25:6 "eastward" is
literally "unto the land of kedem;" i.e., the lands lying east
of Palestine, namely, Arabia, Mesopotamia, etc.
48 Moby Thesaurus words for "East":
Africa, America, Antipodes, Asia, Asia Major, Asia Minor,
Australasia, Dixie, Dixieland, Down East, East Coast,
Eastern Hemisphere, Eurasia, Europe, Far East, Levant,
Middle Atlantic, Middle East, Middle West, Near East, New England,
New World, North, North Central region, Northeast, Northwest,
Occident, Oceania, Old World, Orient, Pacific Northwest, South,
Southeast, Southwest, Sunbelt, West, West Coast,
Western Hemisphere, Yankeeland, continent, down under, eastland,
landmass, northland, the Coast, the old country, westland,
wild West
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