1849, "to turn or cause to turn toward the east," a back-formation from orientation. Intransitive sense of "assume an easterly direction" is by 1850. Figurative meaning "take one's proper bearings mentally" is by 1866. Related: Orientated; orientating.
oriel
orient
Oriental
oriental
Orientalism
orientate
orientation
oriented
orienteering
orifice
oriflamme