occult
verbadjectivenounattested in dialogue
- United Kingdom//ˈɒk.ʌlt//
- United Kingdom//əˈkʌlt//
- United States//əˈkʌlt//
To cover or hide from view.
verb
- 1
To cover or hide from view.
The Earth occults the Moon during a lunar eclipse.
- 2
rareTo dissimulate, conceal, or obfuscate.
[…]to do so would occult rather than illuminate the utterly unexpected and surprising character of his coming and of his reign.
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₁ep-der. Proto-Indo-European *h₁épsder. Proto-Indo-European *h₁óp(i) Proto-Italic *op Latin ob Latin ob- Proto-Indo-European *ḱel- Proto-Indo-European *ḱéletider. Latin *celo Latin occulō Latin occultusbor. English occult Borrowed from Latin occultus (“hidden, secret”).
adjective
- 1
Secret; hidden from general knowledge; undetected.
occult blood loss; occult cancer
This counter-influence is so much more conclusive[…] because it is of an occult kind, and is so insensible in its advances as to escape observation.
- 2
not visible, but chemically detectable.
occult blood in the urine
- 3
Related to the occult; pertaining to mysticism, magic, or astrology.
The concoctions contrived by Italians were particularly in clamant demand, while the occult sciences of astrology and alchemy lent their support[.]
Be aware that occult knowledge can be used for good or evil purposes.
- 4
Esoteric.
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
- 1
Supernatural affairs.
Due to my strong personal convictions / I wish to stress / That this record / In no way endorses / A belief in the occult
Forms
- comparative
- more occult
- superlative
- most occult
- past tense
- occulted
- past participle
- occulted
- present participle
- occulting
- third person singular
- occults