Origin: ME < MF < L occident- (s. of occidēns) prp. of occidere to fall, (of the sun) to set, equiv. to oc-oc-+ cid- (comb. form of cadere to fall) + -ent--ent
c.1375, from O.Fr. occident (12c.), from L. occidentem (nom. occidens) "western sky, part of the sky in which the sun sets," originally "setting" (adj.), prp. of occidere "fall down, go down" (see occasion).