occult

[ uh-kuhlt, ok-uhlt ]

/ əˈkʌlt, ˈɒk ʌlt /

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See synonyms for: occult / occulted / occulting / occults on Thesaurus.com

adjective

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

beyond the range of ordinary knowledge or understanding; mysterious.

secret; disclosed or communicated only to the initiated.

hidden from view; concealed.

(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.

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

noun

Usually the occult .

the supernatural or supernatural agencies and affairs considered as a whole.
occult studies or sciences.

verb (used with object)

to block or shut off (an object) from view; hide.

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

verb (used without object)

to become hidden or shut off from view.

OTHER WORDS FOR occult

2 arcane, esoteric; metaphysical, supernatural.

3 unrevealed; veiled, shrouded; mystical, kabbalistic.

See synonyms for occult on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of occult

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 FROM occult

oc·cult·er, nounoc·cult·ly, adverboc·cult·ness, nounnon·oc·cult, adjective

non·oc·cult·ing, adjective

Words nearby occult

Occleve, occlude, occluded front, occlusion, occlusive, occult, occultation, occult balance, occulting light, occultism, occultist

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use occult in a sentence

Cueva de los Tayos, or the Cave of the Oilbirds, has for decades tantalized fans of the occult, who believe that it contains artifacts of a lost civilization and evidence of extraterrestrial visitors.
Our Favorite Outside Stories of 2021|awise|December 27, 2021|Outside Online
Unfortunately, it also has a curse that makes its wielder prone to bloodshed — hence the sword’s ominous nature and why Blade, who comes with a wealth of knowledge about the occult and, umm, blades, would caution Dane against touching it.
The big reveals in Eternals’ two post-credits scenes|Alex Abad-Santos|November 5, 2021|Vox
I have zero experience with the occult, unless you count having my fortune read at a local fair as a teenager growing up in Ohio.
How Studying Witchcraft Changed My Relationship with the Outdoors|abarronian|October 31, 2021|Outside Online
Crawbuck arrived with her fascination with history intact and proceeded to delve deeply into drinks history—especially the connection of alcohol with the occult.
Boo! Spooky Cocktails Inspired by the Occult|Wayne Curtis|October 29, 2021|The Daily Beast

“Occult” literally means “hidden from view,” which is why we use it both in astronomy and to refer to secret knowledge.
Chariklo, a Minor Planet Nicknamed a “Centaur,” Discovered to Have Rings|Matthew R. Francis|April 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The people of Ponchatoula were also left wondering if the occult had anything to do with the crimes.
The Satanic Child Sex Abuse Case That May Have Inspired ‘True Detective’|Steven Ward|March 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Nazi Party actually began as an occult fraternity, before it morphed into a political party.
Hitler’s Hunt for the Holy Grail and the Ghent Altarpiece|Noah Charney|December 21, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The figures lined his office in Vienna and then in London, adding to the vaguely occult atmosphere in his consulting room.
Freud's Artistic Legacy|Casey Schwartz|January 25, 2011|DAILY BEAST
One engineering school is even promoting a fascinating course on the relationship between the occult and technology.
Fall's Hottest College Courses|Josh Dzieza, Daniel D'Addario|September 6, 2010|DAILY BEAST
The Cardinal then hinted, that Wharton had vanished on some occult mission, to circumvent the Italian investiture.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
Mrs. Irvin has decided to consult a palmist or a hypnotist or some such occult authority before dining with you this evening.
Dope|Sax Rohmer
Recognition of occult hemorrhage has its greatest value in diagnosis of gastric cancer and ulcer.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
Superstitious and fatalistic, like so many superior men, she had no sincere belief except in occult sciences.
Catherine de' Medici|Honore de Balzac
(b) That Pike has, however, in his lectures added occult matters from these occult Rites.
Devil-Worship in France|Arthur Edward Waite

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

beyond ordinary human understanding

secret or esoteric

verb (ɒˈkʌlt)

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

to hide or become hidden or shut off from view

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

Derived forms of occult

occultly, adverboccultness, noun

Word Origin for occult

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

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

occult

OTHER WORDS FOR occult

Origin of occult

OTHER WORDS FROM occult

Words nearby occult

Words related to occult

How to use occult in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for occult

Derived forms of occult

Word Origin for occult