occult

[ uh-kuhlt, ok-uhlt ]
See synonyms for: occultoccultedoccultingoccults on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. of or relating to magic, astrology, or any system claiming use or knowledge of secret or supernatural powers or agencies.

  2. beyond the range of ordinary knowledge or understanding; mysterious.

  1. secret; disclosed or communicated only to the initiated.

  2. hidden from view; concealed.

  3. (in early science)

    • not apparent on mere inspection but discoverable by experimentation.

    • of a nature not understood, as physical qualities.

    • dealing with such qualities; experimental: occult science.

  4. Medicine/Medical. present in amounts too small to be visible: a chemical test to detect occult blood in the stool.

noun
  1. Usually the occult .

    • the supernatural or supernatural agencies and affairs considered as a whole.

    • occult studies or sciences.

verb (used with object)
  1. to block or shut off (an object) from view; hide.

  2. Astronomy. to hide (a celestial body) by occultation.

verb (used without object)
  1. to become hidden or shut off from view.

Origin of occult

1
First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin occultus (past participle of occulere “to hide from view, cover up”), equivalent to oc- “to, toward, over” + -cul-, akin to cēlāre “to hide” + -tus past participle suffix; see oc-, conceal

Other words for occult

Other words from occult

  • oc·cult·er, noun
  • oc·cult·ly, adverb
  • oc·cult·ness, noun
  • non·oc·cult, adjective
  • non·oc·cult·ing, adjective

Words Nearby occult

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use occult in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for occult

occult

adjective(ɒˈkʌlt, ˈɒkʌlt)
    • of or characteristic of magical, mystical, or supernatural arts, phenomena, or influences

    • (as noun): the occult

  1. beyond ordinary human understanding

  1. secret or esoteric

verb(ɒˈkʌlt)
  1. astronomy (of a celestial body) to hide (another celestial body) from view by occultation or (of a celestial body) to become hidden by occultation

  2. to hide or become hidden or shut off from view

  1. (intr) (of lights, esp in lighthouses) to shut off at regular intervals

Origin of occult

1
C16: from Latin occultus, past participle of occulere, from ob- over, up + -culere, related to celāre to conceal

Derived forms of occult

  • occultly, adverb
  • occultness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012