adv. and a. [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 (1754), 17. The Plague … began now to come Eastward towards the Part where I liv’d.
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-looking.
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.
2. quasi-sb.
1695. Lond. Gaz., No. 3099/3. The 17th arrived the Smirna Factor … from the Eastward.
1725. De Foe, Voy. round World (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.
824. Chart. Ecgberht, in Cod. Dipl., V. 71. Ðonan on rihscmere eastanweardne.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 143. Estwarde, orientalis.
1882–3. Schaff, Relig. Encycl., II. 903. The … eastward posture in prayer.
1885. L’pool Daily Post, 27 March, 4/7. The Russians on their side are quietly prosecuting an eastward concentration.
