Etymology 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 (“to rise”).
1
Of a pearl or other precious stone: having a superior lustre.
2
Astrology, Astronomy, Human sciences, Mysticism, Natural sciences, Philosophy, Sciences Pertaining to the eastern part of the sky; happening before sunrise.
3
Obsolete Happening in the eastern part of a given place or location.
4
Dated, Offensive 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.
5
Designating various types of aromatic tobacco grown in Turkey and the Balkans.
Etymology 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 (“to rise”).
1
A precious stone, especially an orient pearl.
2
Dated, Offensive A member or descendant of the peoples and cultures of the Orient.
He looked at her face. He ran his index finger down the bridge of her nose. “Exotic. The last one was an Oriental, too.” “Orientals are rugs and furniture,” Anna said. “Not people.”2022, Gabrielle Zevin, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, Vintage (2023), page 200:
3
A lily cultivar of a widely varied group, with strong scent.
4
Archaic A person from the eastern region of a place.
1848, National anthem of Uruguay Orientals, the Fatherland or the grave, Liberty or with glory we die!