East

East, ēst, n. that part of the heavens where the sun first shines or rises: one of the four cardinal points of the compass.—adj. toward the rising of the sun.—ns. East′-end, the eastern part of London, the habitation of the poorer classes; East′-end′er.—adjs. East′er, East′ern, toward the east: connected with the east: dwelling in the east.—n. East′erling, a native of the East: a trader from the shores of the Baltic.—adj. East′erly, coming from the eastward: looking toward the east.—adv. on the east: toward the east.—adjs. East′ernmost, East′most, situated farthest east.—ns. East′-In′diaman, a vessel used in the East India trade; East′ing, the course gained to the eastward: distance eastward from a given meridian; East′land, the land in the East.—adv. East′ward, toward the east.—East-by-south (north), 11¼ degrees from due east; East-south (north)-east, 22½ degrees from due east.—Eastward position, the position of the celebrant at the Eucharist, when he stands in front of the altar and facing it, instead of the usual practice of standing at the north end of the altar, facing southward.—About east (slang), in proper manner; The East, the countries to the east of Europe; Turning to the east, a practice for both clergy and laity during service, esp. while singing the creeds, the Gloria Patri, and the Gloria in Excelsis. [A.S. east; Ger. ost; akin to Gr. ēōs, the dawn.]