1. [n]  the region of the United States lying north of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi River
2. [n]  the countries of Asia
3. [n]  the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees
4. [adv]  to, toward, or in the east; "we travelled east for several miles"
5. [adj]  situated in or facing or moving toward the east

1. \East\, n. [OE. est, east, AS. e['a]st; akin to D. oost,
   oosten, OHG. ?stan, G. ost, osten, Icel. austr, Sw. ost, Dan.
   ["o]st, ["o]sten, Lith. auszra dawn, L. aurora (for ausosa),
   Gr. ?, ?, ?, Skr. ushas; cf. Skr. ush to burn, L. urere.
   ????, ???. 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.
   
            The east began kindle.                --E. Everett.
   
   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.
   
            The gorgeous East, with richest hand, Showers on her
            kings barbaric pearl and gold.        --Milton.
   
   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.
   
   {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}.
   
   

2. \East\, a.
   Toward the rising sun; or toward the point where the sun
   rises when in the equinoctial; as, the east gate; the east
   border; the east side; the east wind is a wind that blows
   from the east.
   
   

3. \East\, adv.
   Eastward.
   
   

4. \East\, v. i.
   To move toward the east; to veer from the north or south
   toward the east; to orientate.
   
   

5. \East\, a. (Eccl.)
   Designating, or situated in, that part of a church which
   contains the choir or chancel; as, the east front of a
   cathedral.
   
   

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(1.) The orient (mizrah); the rising of the sun. Thus "the east country" is the country lying to the east of Syria, the Elymais (Zech. 8:7).

(2). Properly what is in front of one, or a country that is before or in front of another; the rendering of the word _kedem_. In pointing out the quarters, a Hebrew always looked with his face toward the east. The word _kedem_ is used when the four quarters of the world are described (Gen. 13:14; 28:14); and _mizrah_ when the east only is distinguished from the west (Josh. 11:3; Ps. 50:1; 103:12, etc.). In Gen. 25:6 "eastward" is literally "unto the land of kedem;" i.e., the lands lying east of Palestine, namely, Arabia, Mesopotamia, etc.