Orient, Occident

Orient, a noun that is always capitalized, means "the East" and is normally used to refer to countries east and southeast of the Mediterranean Sea. Orient is commonly restricted to mean Asia, but it can mean the entire Eastern Hemisphere, which also includes Africa and Australia. Specifically, Orient is a term applying to what is known as the Far East, including China, Japan, Korea, and adjacent areas. Orient is derived from Latin terms meaning "the east" and "sunrise." Occident means "the West" and is usually restricted to the countries of Europe and the Americas. It, too, is an always-capitalized noun. Corresponding adjectives, oriental and occidental, have numerous meanings, most of which reflect the sense of east or west."He has lived in the Orient for many years, principally in Korea." "Life in the Occident is not always easy for an Oriental." "Oriental rugs are a prized possession in many occidental homes."