Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - east

 I. adverb  Etymology: Middle English est, from Old English east; akin to Old High German ostar to the ~, Latin aurora dawn, Greek eos, heos  Date: before 12th century to, toward, or in the ~  II. adjective  Date: before 12th century  1. situated toward or at the ~ an ~ window  2. coming from the ~ an ~ wind  III. noun  Date: before 12th century  1.  a. the general direction of sunrise ; the direction toward the right of one facing north  b. the compass point directly opposite to west  2. capitalized  a. regions lying to the ~ of a specified or implied point of orientation  b. regions having a culture derived from ancient non-European especially Asian areas  3. the altar end of a church  4. often capitalized  a. the one of four positions at 90-degree intervals that lies to the ~ or at the right of a diagram  b. a person (as a bridge player) occupying this position in the course of a specified activity