east \east\ =est, n. oe. est, east, as. e'ast; akin to d.
   oost, oosten, ohg. =ostan, g. ost, osten, icel. austr, sw.
   ost, dan. "ost, "osten, lith. auszra dawn, l. aurora for
   ausosa, gr. 'hw`s, "e`os, 'a`yws, skr. ushas; cf. skr. ush
   to burn, l. urere. root149, 288. 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.
      1913 webster

            the east began kindle.                --e. everett.
      1913 webster

   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.
      1913 webster

            the gorgeous east, with richest hand,
            showers on her kings barbaric pearl and gold.
                                                  --milton.
      1913 webster

   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.
      1913 webster

   east by north, east by south, according to the notation
      of the mariner's compass, that point which lies 111/4deg
      to the north or south, respectively, of the point due
      east.

   east-northeast, east-southeast, that which lies
      221/2deg to the north or south of east, or half way
      between east and northeast or southeast, respectively. see
      illust. of compass.
      1913 webster
see also:
aurora easter sterling east by north east by south east-northeast 
east-southeast compass