Part 609

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

Eas"ter (?), n. [AS. eáster, eástran, paschal feast, Easter; akin to G. ostern; fr. AS. Eástre, a goddess of light or spring, in honor of whom a festival was celebrated in April; whence this month was called in AS. Eástermnað. From the root of E. east. See East.] 1. An annual church festival commemorating Christ's resurrection, and occurring on Sunday, the second day after Good Friday. It corresponds to the pascha or passover of the Jews, and most nations still give it this name under the various forms of pascha, pasque, pâque, or pask.

2. The day on which the festival is observed; Easter day.

Easter is used either adjectively or as the first element of a compound; as, Easter day or Easter-day, Easter Sunday, Easter week, Easter gifts.

Sundays by thee more glorious break, An Easter day in every week.

Keble.

Easter day, on which the rest of the movable feasts depend, is always the first Sunday after the fourteenth day of the calendar moon which (fourteenth day) falls on, or next after, the 21st of March, according to the rules laid down for the construction of the calendar; so that if the fourteenth day happen on a Sunday, Easter day is the Sunday after. Eng. Cyc.

Easter dues (Ch. of Eng.), money due to the clergy at Easter, formerly paid in communication of the tithe for personal labor and subject to exaction. For Easter dues, Easter offerings, voluntary gifts, have been substituted. -- Easter egg. (a) A painted or colored egg used as a present at Easter. (b) An imitation of an egg, in sugar or some fine material, sometimes made to serve as a box for jewelry or the like, used as an Easter present.

East"er (?), v. i. (Naut.) To veer to the east; -- said of the wind. Russell.

East"er*ling (?), n. [Cf. Sterling.] 1. A native of a country eastward of another; -- used, by the English, of traders or others from the coasts of the Baltic.

Merchants of Norway, Denmark, . . . called . . . Easterlings because they lie east in respect of us.

Holinshed.

2. A piece of money coined in the east by Richard II. of England. Crabb.

3. (Zoöl.) The smew.

East"er*ling, a. Relating to the money of the Easterlings, or Baltic traders. See Sterling.

East"er*ly, a. 1. Coming from the east; as, it was easterly wind.

2. Situated, directed, or moving toward the east; as, the easterly side of a lake; an easterly course or voyage.

East"er*ly, adv. Toward, or in the direction of, the east.

East"ern (?), a. [AS. eástern.] 1. Situated or dwelling in the east; oriental; as, an eastern gate; Eastern countries.

Eastern churches first did Christ embrace.

Stirling.

2. Going toward the east, or in the direction of east; as, an eastern voyage.

Eastern Church. See Greek Church, under Greek.

East"ern*most` (?), a. Most eastern.

East" In"di*an (?; see Indian). Belonging to, or relating to, the East Indies. -- n. A native of, or a dweller in, the East Indies.

East"ing, n. (Naut. & Surv.) The distance measured toward the east between two meridians drawn through the extremities of a course; distance of departure eastward made by a vessel.

East`-in"su*lar (?), a. Relating to the Eastern Islands; East Indian. [R.] Ogilvie.

{ East"ward (?), East"wards (?), } adv. Toward the east; in the direction of east from some point or place; as, New Haven lies eastward from New York.