occult
Noun · Verb · AdjectiveOpen English WordNet
Noun (2)
- supernatural forces and events and beings collectively“She doesn't believe in the supernatural”Synonyms: supernaturalType of causal agent, causeParts destiny, theurgyMembers spiritual being, supernatural being
- supernatural practices and techniques“he is a student of the occult”Synonyms: occult artsType of practice, pattern
Verb (3)occulted, occulting
- cause an eclipse of (a celestial body) by intervention“The Sun eclipses the moon today”“Planets and stars often are occulted by other celestial bodies”Synonyms: eclipseMore general overshadow
- become concealed or hidden from view or have its light extinguished“The beam of light occults every so often”More general change
- hide from view“The lids were occulting her eyes”More general conceal, hold back
Adjective (2)
- hidden and difficult to see“an occult fracture”“occult blood in the stool”Opposite seeableSimilar invisible, unseeable
- having an import not apparent to the senses nor obvious to the intelligence; beyond ordinary understanding“mysterious symbols”“the mystical style of Blake”“occult lore”“the secret learning of the ancients”Synonyms: mysteriousmysticmysticalsecretorphicOpposite exotericSimilar esoteric
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Origin: L. occultus, p. p. of occulere to cover up, hide; ob (see Ob-) + a root prob. akin to E. hell: cf. F. occulte.
Hidden from the eye or the understanding; invisible; secret; concealed; unknown.
It is of an occult kind, and is so insensible in its advances as to escape observation.— Isaac Taylor
Occult line Geometry, a line drawn as a part of the construction of a figure or problem, but not to appear in the finished plan. — Occult qualities, those qualities whose effects only were observed, but the nature and relations of whose productive agencies were undetermined; — so called by the schoolmen. — Occult sciences, those sciences of the Middle Ages which related to the supposed action or influence of occult qualities, or supernatural powers, as alchemy, magic, necromancy, and astrology.
To eclipse; to hide from sight.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54