Wiktionary

Oriental

See also: oriental

English edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

From Middle English oriental, from Anglo-Norman oriental, Middle French oriental, from Latin orientālis (“eastern”), from oriēns (“rising (of the Sun)”), present active participle of orior (“I rise”).

Pronunciation edit

Adjective edit

Oriental (comparative more Oriental, superlative most Oriental)

  1. Of a pearl or other precious stone: having a superior lustre. [from 14th c.]
  2. (astronomy, astrology) Pertaining to the eastern part of the sky; happening before sunrise. [from 14th c.]
  3. (obsolete) Happening in the eastern part of a given place or location. [15th–19th c.]
  4. Pertaining to the regions east of the Mediterranean, beyond the Roman Empire or the early Christian world; of the Near East, the Middle East or the Far East, now especially relating to East Asia. [from 15th c.]
  5. Designating various types of aromatic tobacco grown in Turkey and the Balkans. [from 19th c.]

Derived terms edit

Related terms edit

Translations edit

Noun edit

Oriental (plural Orientals)

  1. A precious stone, especially an orient pearl. [from 14th c.]
  2. A member or descendant of the peoples and cultures of the Orient. [from 15th c.]
  3. A lily cultivar of a widely varied group, with strong scent.
  4. (archaic) A person from the eastern region of a place. [15th–19th c.]
    • 1848, National anthem of Uruguay
      Orientals, the Fatherland or the grave, Liberty or with glory we die!

Usage notes edit

  • Use of the term Oriental to describe a person is considered dated and potentially offensive in North America.

Synonyms edit

See Thesaurus:Asian

Translations edit

See also edit

Anagrams edit

Dutch edit

Noun edit

Oriental m (plural Orientals)

  1. An Oriental lily
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