adjective / noun / verb
occult
uh-KULT/əˈkʌlt/
Hidden from ordinary view or detection.
The occult compartment lies beneath the chest's false bottom.
Etymology
Latin occultus meant “hidden” or “secret.” The adjective extended to things beyond ordinary understanding, then became associated with magic and other supernatural sciences.
In context
This occult wisdom, according to Blovatsky, was not an invention, but rather the legacy of ancient traditions, secret societies, and mystery schools that existed long before the religions we know today.
More examples
- An occult fracture may not appear on the first X-ray.
- The lab checks the sample for occult blood.
- The moon occults a distant star as it crosses the sky.
Forms
occult · occults · occulted · occulting
occultation noun — One celestial body hiding another from view.
Similar words
- hidden
- Broader and more everyday; not necessarily difficult to detect.
- undetected
- Not yet discovered, rather than inherently hidden from observation.