I. ˈōrēənt, ˈȯr-, -ēˌent noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin orient-, oriens, from present participle of oriri to rise, come forth — more at rise
1. archaic : the part of the firmament or of the world where the sun rises : east 1 — compare occident
2. usually capitalized : east 2
sailed for the Orient
3. archaic : dawn , sunrise
4.
a. : a pearl of great luster
b. : the luster or sheen of a pearl
5. : a moderate to strong blue that is redder than average Prussian blue
II. adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, orient, n.
1. archaic : oriental 1
2.
a. : lustrous , sparkling
orient gems
b. archaic : glowing , radiant
with orient colors waving — John Milton
3. archaic : rising
the orient moon — P.B.Shelley
III. -ēˌent sometimes when no syllable-increasing suffix follows -ēənt transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: French orienter, from Middle French, from orient, n.
1.
a. : to cause to face or point toward the east ; specifically : to build (as a church or temple) with the longitudinal axis pointing eastward and the chief altar at the eastern end
b. : to define the position of in relation to the east
c. : to set or arrange in any determinate position in relation to the points of the compass
d. : to ascertain the bearings of
determined to get some distance up the ridge above the hut, to orient myself with the country — Elyne Mitchell
2. : to set right by adjusting to facts or principles : put into correct position or relation : acquaint with the existing situation
will help freshmen to orient themselves to college and to life — advt
3. : to direct toward : place in relation to
orient youth to the responsibilities of military service — American Child
4.
a. : to direct to a given position in a chemical compound especially about a nucleus
the orienting effect of the nitro group
b. : to ascertain the relative positions of atoms or groups in (a compound)
c. : to cause the axes of the molecules of (as a fiber or material) to assume the same direction
orient a fiber by stretching
highly oriented cellulose
5. : to place (a crystal) so that its crystallographic axes lie in conventionally fixed directions
6. : to rotate (a map attached to a plane table) until the line of direction between any two of its points is parallel to the corresponding direction in nature