Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Orient?

\O"ri*ent\, a. [F., fr. L. oriens, -entis, p. pr. of oriri to rise. See {Origin}.] 1. Rising, as the sun. Moon, that now meet'st the orient sun. --Milton. 2. Eastern; oriental. ``The orient part.'' --Hakluyt. 3. Bright; lustrous; superior; pure; perfect; pellucid; -- used of gems and also figuratively, because the most perfect jewels are found in the East. ``Pearls round and orient.'' --Jer. Taylor. ``Orient gems.'' --Wordsworth. ``Orient liquor in a crystal glass.'' --Milton.
\O"ri*ent\, n. 1. The part of the horizon where the sun first appears in the morning; the east. [Morn] came furrowing all the orient into gold. --Tennyson. 2. The countries of Asia or the East. --Chaucer. Best built city throughout the Orient. --Sir T. Herbert. 3. A pearl of great luster. [R.] --Carlyle.
\O"ri*ent\, v. t. [F. orienter. Cf. {Orientate}.] 1. To define the position of, in relation to the orient or east; hence, to ascertain the bearings of. 2. Fig.: To correct or set right by recurring to first principles; to arrange in order; to orientate.
\O"ri*ent\, v. t. 1. Same as {Orientate}, 2. 2. To place (a map or chart) so that its east side, north side, etc., lie toward the corresponding parts of the horizon; specif. (Surv.), to rotate (a map attached to a plane table) until the line of direction between any two of its points is parallel to the corresponding direction in nature.