prep., orig. advb. phr. In 1 be éastan. [OE. be éastan ‘on the east,’ (be ‘by, about,’ éastan ‘from the east,’ f. éast ‘east’); used advb., and also with following dative. In later times only in Sc.] East of.
894. O. E. Chron., Of ælcre byriʓ be eastan Pendredan . ʓe be westan Seal wuda ʓe be eastan.
1559–66. in Misc. Wodrow Soc. (1844), 78. Twoe mile be-east the said towne.
1819. Blackw. Mag., V. 637. Lodge them be-east the town.
