eastward, adv. and a.
(ˈiːstwəd)
[f. east + -ward; OE. had éasteweard(e adv., éastanweard adj., but the mod. adj. is probably merely a use of the adv.]
A. adv.
1. Towards the east; in an eastern direction: a. of motion.
| 959 Chart. Edgar in Cod. Dipl. VI. 8 Ðonon to holan dic eastwærde. 1297 R. Glouc. 41 Þis Picardes þenne wende forþ Estward euer faste. 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. ii. 133 Alle þat han wel y-wroght wenden þey shulle Estwarde to heuene. c 1440 York Myst. xxviii. 18 Whedir is he walked, Estewarde or weste? 1553 Eden Treat. New Ind. (Arb.) 9 Sayling Eastward by the coastes of Aphrica. 1611 Bible 1 Kings xvii. 3 Get thee hence, and turne thee Eastward. 1722 De Foe Plague (1840) 16 The plague..began now to come eastward. 1816 Playfair Nat. Phil. II. 155 Ten of the stars have motions eastward, peculiar to themselves. |
b. of position, bearing, or aspect. Also in comb., as eastward-flowing, eastward-looking,etc.
| a 1000 Boeth. Metr. xvi. 18 (Gr.) Þonan Oð Indeas eastewearde. 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. i. 14 Esteward ich byhulde after þe sonne. 1535 Coverdale Ezek. xl. 10 The chambers of the dore eastwarde, were thre on euery side. 1611 Bible Gen. xiii. 14 Looke..Northward, and Southward, and Eastward, and Westward. 1878 Black Green Past. ii. 11 The eastward-looking branches of the great elms. 1911 M. Newbigin Mod. Geogr. iv. 90 The long, eastward-stretching, inland sea. 1914 G. A. J. Cole Growth of Europe viii. 157 The eastward-running rivers. 1915 E. Pound Cathay 14 And evening drives them on the eastward-flowing waters. |
2. quasi-n.
| 1695 Lond. Gaz. No. 3099/3 The 17th arrived the Smirna Factor..from the Eastward. 1725 De Foe Voy. round W. (1840) 318 It might..empty itself to the Eastward. 1828 J. H. Moore Pract. Navig. 230 If a ship has been sailing to the eastward. |
B. adj. That moves or looks eastward. eastward position: the position of the celebrant standing on the west side of the altar (and so facing east) in the Communion Service.
| 824 Chart. Ecgberht in Cod. Dipl. V. 71 Ðonan on rihscmere eastanweardne. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 143 Estwarde, orientalis. 1873 J. B. Dykes Let. 5 July (1897) 306 The eastward position of the Celebrant. 1876 J. Harrison Eastward Position 9 The phrase ‘eastward position’ as descriptive of the posture claimed by some for the minister at the Communion Table is inaccurate, misleading, and deceptive. 1882–3 Schaff Relig. Encycl. II. 903 The..eastward posture in prayer. 1885 L'pool Daily Post 27 Mar. 4/7 The Russians on their side are quietly prosecuting an eastward concentration. 1890 Times 5 Feb. 3/2 The third charge [against the Bishop of Lincoln]—relating to the eastward position—was contained in article 5. 1921 M. Baring Passing By 256 She said that the local clergyman was so low—no eastward position. |