orient

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
orient

▶noun /ˈɔːrɪənt, ˈɒr-/ 

• 1 (the Orient) literary the countries of the East, especially east Asia.

• 2 the special lustre of a pearl of the finest quality (with reference to fine pearls from the East).

▶adjective /ˈɔːrɪənt, ˈɒr-/ literary oriental. ▶verb /ˈɔːrɪɛnt, ˈɒr-/ 

• 1 align or position relative to the points of a compass or other specified positions.

  ■ (orient oneself) find one's position in relation to unfamiliar surroundings.

• 2 tailor (something) to specified circumstances.

– origin ME: via OFr. from L. orient- ‘rising or east’, from oriri ‘to rise’.