orient

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin orient-, oriens, from present participle of oriri to rise; akin to Sanskrit ṛṇoti he moves, arises, Greek ornynai to rouse, oros mountain Date: 14th century 1. archaic east 1b 2. capitalized east 2 3. a. a pearl of great luster b. the luster of a pearl II. adjective Date: 15th century 1. archaic oriental 1 2. a. lustrous, sparkling <

orient gems

> b. archaic radiant, glowing 3. archaic rising in the sky III. transitive verb Etymology: French orienter, from Middle French, from orient Date: circa 1741 1. a. to cause to face or point toward the east; specifically to build (a church or temple) with the longitudinal axis pointing eastward and the chief altar at the eastern end b. to set or arrange in any determinate position especially in relation to the points of the compass c. to ascertain the bearings of 2. a. to set right by adjusting to facts or principles b. to acquaint with the existing situation or environment 3. to direct (as a book or film) toward the interests of a particular group 4. to cause the axes of the molecules of to assume the same direction