from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
East \East\ ([=e]st), n. [OE. est, east, AS. e['a]st; akin to D.
oost, oosten, OHG. [=o]stan, G. ost, osten, Icel. austr, Sw.
ost, Dan. ["o]st, ["o]sten, Lith. auszra dawn, L. aurora (for
ausosa), Gr. 'hw`s, "e`os, 'a`yws, Skr. ushas; cf. Skr. ush
to burn, L. urere. [root]149, 288. 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.
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The east began kindle. --E. Everett.
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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.
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The gorgeous East, with richest hand,
Showers on her kings barbaric pearl and gold.
--Milton.
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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.
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{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}.
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