-alis

of, relating to

Forms

-alis
-aris — Latin variant especially used when the stem already contained l, avoiding a repeated l sound.
-al — English ending borrowed through French or directly from Latin.
-ar — English ending continuing Latin -aris.

Origin

An older Latin adjective-forming suffix; its more remote ancestry is uncertain.

Note

Expresses a relationship without specifying its kind: material, place, purpose, and other connections are possible.

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adjective / noun

occidental

ok-sih-DEN-tul/ˌɑːksɪˈdentl/

Of or from Western countries or cultures.

The globe highlights occidental countries in North America and western Europe.

An Atlantic-centered globe with North America and western Europe gently emphasized, providing a simple geographic illustration of countries commonly associated with the West.

Etymology

occidentLatinsunset, western sky

+alLatinof, relating to

Occidens names the sunset or western sky: west is where the sun goes down. The geographical adjective later extended to Western countries and cultures, especially Western Europe and its derivative civilizations.

In context

SOAS University of London149:51

… the european artistic influence is indeed most striking in paintings with western subject matter such as as i told the occidental mythology biblical sense or european people …

The Idea of Iran: The Safavid Era (Part 2) | SOAS

More examples

The course compares occidental and Asian traditions in philosophy.
Her paintings combine occidental techniques with Japanese themes.
The memoir describes an Occidental's first impressions of Japan.

Forms

occidental · occidentals

Similar words

Western: The usual modern term; occidental sounds formal or dated.