orient Hear it!

orient definition

ori·ent (ôr′ē ənt, ōr′-; for v., -ent′, -ənt)

noun

  1. Old Poet. the east
    1. the quality that determines a pearl's value; luster
    2. a pearl of high quality

Etymology: OFr < L oriens: see the adj.

adjective

  1. brilliant; shining; precious: said originally of pearls, now used more generally
  2. Old Poet.
    1. eastern; oriental
    2. rising, as the sun

Etymology: L oriens, direction of the rising sun, prp. of oriri, to arise < IE base *er-, to set in motion, elevate > rise, run, Gr oros, mountain

transitive verb

  1. to arrange with reference to the east; esp., to build (a church) with the chief altar at the eastern end
  2. to set (a map or chart) in agreement with the points of the compass
  3. to adjust with relation to facts or principles; correct
  4. to adjust or adapt to, or acquaint with, a particular situation

Etymology: Fr orienter < the adj.

orient Idioms

the Orient

the East, or Asia; esp., the Far East

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments (1) Add Your Comment

I believe "to orient" oneself comes from the ancient cartographic practice of having a figure, later and arrow, point to the east before it became conventional to have north on top of the map.

Posted by anonymous 71 days ago.

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