Located in or toward the east, or related to the eastern part of a region or world.
Formed from 'east' plus the adjective suffix '-ern', which marks direction or location. English uses similar patterns in 'northern', 'southern', and 'western'.
When people say 'the East', they often mean not just direction but a whole group of cultures. The same root that simply meant 'where the sun rises' now carries layers of history, trade, and stereotype.
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