Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Relating to supernatural, mystical, or magical knowledge and phenomena that are beyond ordinary human understanding or perception: Refers to matters that are secret, hidden, or accessible only to the initiated.
   • Hidden from view or knowledge; concealed: Describes something that is not apparent to the senses or obvious to the intelligence.

2. Noun:

   • (The occult): Supernatural, mystical, or magical beliefs, practices, or phenomena collectively.

3. Verb:

   • To hide or conceal from view; to cut off the light from: Often used in an astronomical context when one celestial body passes in front of another, blocking its light.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • She studied occult symbols and their meanings.
  • The doctor found occult blood in the test results, which was not visible to the naked eye.
• Noun:
  • He has a deep interest in the occult.
  • Many ancient texts deal with the occult.
• Verb:
  • The moon will occult the bright star tonight.
  • Thick clouds occulted the sun, plunging the landscape into shadow.

Advanced Usage

• Occultation (n): The process or event of one celestial body occulting another.
  • The occultation of the star by the asteroid was observed by telescopes worldwide.
• Occulted (adj): Describes something that has been hidden or eclipsed.
  • The occulted planet was not visible for several hours.

Variants and Related Words

• Occultism (n): The study or belief in occult supernatural forces or knowledge.
  • Modern occultism encompasses a wide range of esoteric traditions.
• Occultist (n): A person who believes in or studies the occult.
  • The famous author was also a practicing occultist.

Synonyms

• Adjective: Mystical, esoteric, arcane, supernatural, hidden, concealed.
• Noun: The supernatural, mysticism, esoterica.
• Verb: Eclipse, hide, conceal, obscure, veil.

Phrasal Verbs / Common Collocations

• (No common phrasal verbs exist for 'occult' as a verb. Its use is typically direct and formal, especially in scientific contexts.)
• Common Collocations:
  • Occult practices, occult knowledge, occult sciences, occult blood (medical term).

Related Idioms

• (No common idioms directly use the word 'occult'. The term itself often functions within the broader idiom "the occult.")

Adjective

1. 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
2. hidden and difficult to see
   • an occult fracture
   • occult blood in the stool

Noun

1. supernatural practices and techniques
   • he is a student of the occult
2. supernatural forces and events and beings collectively
   • She doesn't believe in the supernatural

Verb

1. hide from view
   • The lids were occulting her eyes
2. become concealed or hidden from view or have its light extinguished
   • The beam of light occults every so often
3. 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