situated in or toward the east part of a place or area.
They moved to an eastern suburb to be closer to the beach.
The eastern side of the mountain gets the first sunlight.
✦ Old English ēasterne, from ēast (“east”) + –ern (“directional suffix”), meaning “toward the east”.
(of wind, weather, or another moving force) coming from the east.
An eastern wind carried the smell of the sea across the town.
Sailors feared the strong eastern gales during winter.
✦ Same origin as the general adjective: Old English ēasterne, with directional suffix –ern, later applied to winds coming from that direction.
relating to the cultures, peoples, or countries of the East, especially Asia.
She loves reading about Eastern philosophy.
Many Eastern countries celebrate Lunar New Year.
✦ Capitalized sense developed in English during the 17th century to describe the farther regions lying toward the rising sun, especially Asia.
a Christian holiday celebrated on the first Sunday after the full moon that falls on or after March 21st. It celebrates Jesus Christ's rising from the dead.
Many families have special meals together on Easter Sunday.
The children woke up early to hunt for eggs on Easter morning.
✦ The name 'Easter' comes from Old English 'Ēastre' or 'Ēostre', the name of a Germanic goddess of spring and dawn.
(in Germanic mythology, rare) an Anglo-Saxon goddess of the dawn and spring after whom the Christian festival is named.
Scholars believe Easter was a pagan goddess of fertility and spring.
The holiday Easter may get its name from an old goddess.
✦ From Proto-Germanic *Austrō, related to 'east' and 'dawn'.
