Etymologically
Log in

occidens

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 20 October 2026 at 01:47. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ˈɔk.kɪ.dẽːs][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ˈɔt.t͡ʃi.dens][1]

Forms

occidēns m (genitive occidentis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is the present participle from Latin occidō (“to fall down; to set”), used as an adjective and as a noun, the place of the setting sun.[2][1][3] That verb is a compound of ob and cadō (“to fall”), which de Vaan derives, with some doubt, from Proto-Indo-European *(ḱe-)ḱh₂d- (“to fall”).[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates it from Cicero.[5] In the OLD's earliest quotation Cicero writes of torches seen in the west at night.[2]

Semantic evolution

As an adjective it is connected with sunset, and western: Varro says that if you face south, the eastern parts of the world are on your left and the western on your right.[2] As a noun it is the quarter of the setting sun, the west, which Vitruvius distinguishes by season as the winter west.[2] It is also the western part of the known world and its peoples: Cicero writes that he has firm leaders and armies in the West.[2] Church Latin glosses it west, evening.[6] English occident comes from it, partly through Old French, from the late 14th century.[3]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero of torches seen in the west and of armies in the West.[2][5]
  • 116–27 BC – Varro of the western parts of the world.[2][5]
  • c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius of the winter west.[2][5]
  • late 14th century – English occident.[3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Of the sunset or evening; western, westerly.[2]

Noun

  1. The quarter where the sun sets, the west;[2][1][6] (Ecclesiastical Latin) evening.[2][1][6]
  2. The western part of the world, the West, and its peoples.[2]
  3. Sunset.[1]

Word family

  • occidentālis

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b c Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson