orient

Meanings

Proper Noun

• Usually preceded by the: Alternate spelling of Orient

Noun

• The part of the horizon where the sun first appears in the morning; the east.
• A pearl originating from the Indian region, reputed to be of great brilliance; any pearl of particular beauty and value.
• The brilliance or colour of a high-quality pearl.

Adjective

• Rising, like the morning sun.
• Of the colour of the sky at daybreak; bright in colour, from red to yellow.
• Of, facing, or located in the east; eastern, oriental.
• Of a pearl or other gem: of great brilliance and value; bright, lustrous.

Verb

• To build or place (something) so as to face eastward.
• To align or place (a person or object) so that his, her, or its east side, north side, etc., is positioned toward the corresponding points of the compass; 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.
• To direct towards or point at a particular direction.
• To determine which direction one is facing.
• To familiarize (oneself or someone) with a circumstance or situation.
• To set the focus of (something) so as to appeal or relate to a certain group.
• To change direction to face a certain way.

Origin

• The noun is derived from Middle English orient, oriente, oryent, oryente, oryentte, borrowed from Anglo-Norman orient, oriente, and Old French orient (modern French orient), or directly from its etymon Latin oriēns, present active participle of orior, from Proto-Indo-European *h₃er-.
• The adjective is derived from Middle English orient, from Middle English orient; see above.
• The verb is derived from French orienter from French orient (see above) + -er.