East
/iːst/noun
The cardinal direction opposite to west, typically associated with the direction of sunrise.
Did you know?In ancient cultures, the East was often associated with rebirth and new beginnings, symbolizing the start of the day and the arrival of light.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*aus-
“to shine, to dawn”
Ancient Germanic
Old English
ēast
“the direction where the sun rises”
Old English
Old English
ēast
“the region or point of sunrise”
Middle English
Middle English
est
“the cardinal point opposite of west, associated with the sunrise”
Modern English
English
east
“the direction towards which the sun rises”