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.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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