Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “eastern” come from?

Eastern comes from Middle English esterne, from Old English ēasterne, from Proto-Germanic austrōnijaz, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₂ews-, meaning to shine or burn.

eastern (English): Of, facing, situated in, or related to the east;...

Definitions

  1. Of, facing, situated in, or related to the east;...

Ancestry of “eastern”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishesterneeastern
2Old Englishēasterneeastern
3Proto-Germanicaustrōnijazeastern
4Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂ews-ro-of the dawn or morning, matutinal; eastern;...
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂ews-dawn; east; to draw water, scoop up

Words derived from “eastern”

  • southeastern
  • easternmost
  • easterner
  • Mideastern
  • southeasternmost
  • easternness
  • easternization
  • easternism
  • easternisation
  • easternize
  • southeasterner
  • noneastern
  • easternise
  • Eastern Herzegovinian
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂ews- →