EAST

I. adverb Etymology: Middle English est, from Old English ēast; akin to Old High German ōstar to the ~, Latin aurora dawn, Greek ēōs, heōs Date: before 12th century to, toward, or in the ~, II. adjective Date: before 12th century situated toward or at the ~ , coming from the ~ , III. noun Date: before 12th century 1. the general direction of sunrise ; the direction toward the right of one facing north, the compass point directly opposite to west, 2. capitalized regions lying to the ~ of a specified or implied point of orientation, regions having a culture derived from ancient non-European especially Asian areas, the altar end of a church, 4. often capitalized the one of four positions at 90-degree intervals that lies to the ~ or at the right of a diagram, a person (as a bridge player) occupying this position in the course of a specified activity