occulted

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Related to occulted: occultate, Lunar occultation

oc·cult

(ə-kŭlt′, ŏk′ŭlt′)

adj.

1. Of, relating to, or dealing with supernatural or magical influences, agencies, or occurrences: occult astrological powers.

2. Available only to the initiate; secret or mysterious: occult lore. See Synonyms at mysterious.

3. Beyond the realm of human comprehension; inscrutable: The causes of those phenomena remain occult.

4. Hidden from view; concealed: "Hatchlings and juveniles ... keep to this occult place through all the seasons" (David M. Carroll).

a. Medicine Detectable only by microscopic examination or chemical analysis, as a minute blood sample.

b. Not accompanied by readily detectable signs or symptoms: occult carcinoma.

Occult practices or techniques: a student of the occult.

v. (ə-kŭlt′) oc·cult·ed, oc·cult·ing, oc·cults

v.tr.

1. To conceal or cause to disappear from view.

2. Astronomy To conceal by occultation: The moon occulted Mars.

v.intr.

To become concealed or extinguished at regular intervals: a lighthouse beacon that occults every 45 seconds.

[Latin occultus, secret, past participle of occulere, to cover over; see kel- in Indo-European roots.]

oc·cult′ly adv.

oc·cult′ness n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

References in classic literature ?

By the absence of refraction in the rays of the planets occulted by her we conclude that she is absolutely devoid of an atmosphere.

View in context

* On the morning of March 5th, an 8.7-magnitude star northeast of Antares will be occulted by faint 72 Feronia for up to 4 seconds along a path from southern California across northern Arizona.

Mutual events of Jupiter's Moons

But the technique was used so successfully with the rings of Saturn that it is being tried twice at Uranus -- first for about four hours, when the star Sigma Sagittarii (Nunki) will be occulted by the two outermost rings, and later by the star Beta Persei (Algol), whose track will encompass all nine.