eastern English · revision 3080

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=before 1000|origins=ang ēasterne}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈiː.stᵊn/, US /ˈiː.stɚn/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|estern]],^(MWU 2024) [[inh|ang|ēasterne|t=of the east, from the east]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) formed from [[east]] and the suffix -erne, which marks direction.^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) It is cognate with Old Saxon ōstrōni, Old High German ōstrōni and Old Norse austrœnn.^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of or belonging to the east of the world, oriental, and of the wind, blowing from the east: before 1000.^(OED 1989) Old English also used it of the Eastern Church.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ “Lying towards the east” is from 1593.^(OED 1989) In the United States it referred to the north-eastern States from 1776,^(OED 1989) and the ''Eastern Shore'' of Maryland and Virginia was so called from the 1620s.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) A member of the Eastern Church is a noun sense from about 1000.^(OED 1989) The Eastern Church and the Eastern Roman Empire take the adjective with a capital.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1000 – of the east; of the wind.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1593 – lying to the east.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1620s – the ''Eastern Shore''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1776 – of the eastern United States.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Situated in, towards or facing the [[east]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Coming from the east: ''an eastern wind''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Of the countries of [[Asia]]; [[oriental]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''Eastern'': of the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Of the eastern part of the United States.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[easternness]]

+ * [[easternmost]]

+ * [[easterner]]

+ * [[easternize]]

+ * [[noneastern]]

+ * [[eastern bluebird]]

+ * [[Eastern Europe]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[east]]

+ * [[Easter]]

+ * [[northern]]

+ * [[southern]]

+ * [[western]]

+ * [[orient]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}