eastern

From Middle English esturne, esterne, from Old English ēasterne (“eastern”), from Proto-Germanic *austrōnijaz (“eastern”), from Proto-Indo-European *austero- (“eastern”), from Proto-Indo-European *aus- (“to shine”). Cognate with Old Saxon and Old High German ōstrōni (“eastern”), Old Norse austrœnn (“eastern”). More at east.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈiːstən/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -iːstə(r)n

eastern (comparative more eastern, superlative most eastern)

1. Of, facing, situated in, or related to the east.
   • 1948, Carey McWilliams, North from Mexico / The Spanish-Speaking People of The United States, J. B. Lippincott Company, page 25,

     While De Anza was exploring the Bay of San Francisco, seeking a site for the presidio, the American colonists on the eastern seaboard, three thousand miles away, were celebrating the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

2. (of a wind) Blowing from the east; easterly.
3. (loosely) Oriental.

• easternmost
• Eastern Norway

• northern
• southern
• western
• northeastern
• southeastern
• southwestern
• northwestern

• Earnest, Saetern, Tareens, earnest, estrane, nearest, renates, sterane