occult
UK[əˈkʌlt]US[əˈkʌlt]
adj
Relating to magical, mystical, or supernatural powers, practices, or phenomena.
v
To hide or conceal something from view or knowledge.
Morpheme Breakdown
oc
cult
oc
over, completely
cult
hidden
Etymology
The word 'occult' originates from the Latin verb 'occulere', a compound of 'ob-' (meaning 'over, completely') and 'celere' (meaning 'to hide'). Its literal past participle, 'occultus', meant 'hidden, concealed, secret'. This concrete sense of physical concealment was adopted into English in the 16th century. Over time, the meaning specialized to refer to knowledge or phenomena that are 'hidden' from ordinary understanding or the senses, becoming the established term for secret, mystical, or magical arts. Thus, the term's journey reflects a shift from a general description of being covered to denoting a specific realm of esoteric and supernatural secrets.
Analysis
Structure: oc (over, completely) + cult (hidden)
- oc: A prefix from Latin 'ob-', meaning 'over, against, toward, completely'. In this form, it assimilates before 'c'.
- cult: A root from the Latin past participle 'cultus' of the verb 'celere', meaning 'to hide, conceal'.
Examples
She has a deep interest in occult practices like astrology and tarot.
The mechanism was cleverly occulted behind a panel in the wall.
Certain planets can be occulted by the moon during its orbit.