occident Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
    West.
  2. noun the hemisphere that includes North America and South America
    New World; western hemisphere.

WordNet

Oc"ci*dent noun
Etymology
F., fr. L. occidens, occidentis, fr. occidents, p.pr. of occidere to fall or go down. See Occasion.
Definitions
  1. The part of the horizon where the sun last appears in the evening; that part of the earth towards the sunset; the west; -- opposed to orient. Specifically, in former times, Europe as opposed to Asia; now, also, the Western hemisphere. Chaucer.
    I may wander from east to occident. Shak.

Webster 1913