occult

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /əˈkʌlt/ UK /ɒˈkʌlt/ See IPA manual

adj noun

Meanings

1

adj
relating to supernatural or mystical forces; hidden from ordinary view

He spent years studying occult texts in the dim corners of old libraries.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · relating to supernatural or... mystical esoteric supernatural arcane hidden mysterious secret

Opposites

revealed manifest overt exoteric obvious

Word family

Derived forms occultismoccultistoccultation

Etymology

From Latin occultus ('hidden, concealed, secret'), past participle of occulere ('to cover over, conceal'), from ob- plus a verb related to celare ('to hide').

occultus Latin celare Latin

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Topics

Describing Qualities

# occult

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj, noun
**IPA (US):** əˈkʌlt
**IPA (UK):** ɒˈkʌlt

## Meanings
1. relating to supernatural or mystical forces; hidden from ordinary view

## Examples
- He spent years studying occult texts in the dim corners of old libraries.

## Synonyms
- mystical
- esoteric
- supernatural
- arcane
- hidden
- mysterious
- secret

## Antonyms
- revealed
- manifest
- overt
- exoteric
- obvious

## Derived Forms
- occultism
- occultist
- occultation

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: occultus
- Root: celare

## Etymology
From Latin occultus ('hidden, concealed, secret'), past participle of occulere ('to cover over, conceal'), from ob- plus a verb related to celare ('to hide').

## AI Etymology
Occult comes from Latin occultus ('hidden, concealed, secret'), past participle of occulere ('to cover over, conceal'), from ob- plus a verb related to celare ('to hide'). The form is best read as a historical transfer or inheritance, with its older language material carrying the main semantic load. As an adjective and noun, it carries the sense "relating to supernatural or mystical forces; hidden from ordinary view", with the older formation still helping explain the modern use. Relevant historical forms include Latin occultus and Latin celare. Derivative forms include occultism, occultist, occultation.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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occult

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