[east.ern] adj [ME estern, fr. OE easterne; akin to OHG ostroni eastern, OE east east] (bef. 12c) 1 cap: of, relating to, or characteristic of a region conventionally designated East
2. cap a: of, relating to, or being the Christian churches originating in the church of the Eastern Roman Empire b: eastern orthodox 3 a: lying toward the east b: coming from the east "an ~ wind" -- east.ern.most adj