occult

Etymology

From Latin occultō (“hide, keep secret”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈɒk.ʌlt/, /əˈkʌlt/
• (US) IPA^(key): /əˈkʌlt/
• Rhymes: -ʌlt

Verb

occult (third-person singular simple present occults, present participle occulting, simple past and past participle occulted)

1. (transitive, astronomy) To cover or hide from view.

   The Earth occults the Moon during a lunar eclipse.

2. (transitive, rare) To dissimulate, conceal, or obfuscate.

Adjective

occult (comparative more occult, superlative most occult)

1. (medicine) Secret; hidden from general knowledge; undetected.

   occult blood loss;  occult cancer

   • Isaac Taylor (1787–1865)

     It is of an occult kind, and is so insensible in its advances as to escape observation.

2. Related to the occult; pertaining to mysticism, magic, or astrology.

   Be aware that occult knowledge can be used for good or evil purposes. ― Pao Chang, "Words Are Magic Spells: Why You Practice the Occult Every Day", Omnithought.org

3. Esoteric.
   • 1907, Robert William Chambers, chapter VIII, in The Younger Set (Project Gutenberg; EBook #14852), New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, published 1 February 2005 (Project Gutenberg version), OCLC 24962326:

     Elbows almost touching they leaned at ease, idly reading the almost obliterated lines engraved there. ¶ "I never understood it," she observed, lightly scornful. "What occult meaning has a sun-dial for the spooney? I'm sure I don't want to read riddles in a strange gentleman's optics."

Noun

occult (uncountable)

1. (usually with "the") Supernatural affairs.

Related terms

• occultation
• occultive