Occultistic

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Associated with practices that delve into the supernatural, emphasizing secret knowledge and magical traditions
2. Pertaining to beliefs and investigations focused on mysterious phenomena, often linked to mysticism and the spiritual realm
3. Relating to esoteric practices and beliefs that explore hidden or mystical forces, often connected to the supernatural and spiritual insights

Etymology: "Occultistic" is a plain formation: it takes "occultist," a person who studies or practises occult arts, and adds the adjective-forming suffix "-ic," producing a word meaning of or relating to occultism. The base noun itself is built from "occult," which comes from Latin "occultus," meaning hidden or concealed, the past participle of "occulere," to cover over or conceal. The point of the word's history is that "occult" always described knowledge kept out of sight, so "occultistic" carries that sense of secrecy into adjectives describing practices, beliefs, and traditions. The suffix "-ist" marks a practitioner, and "-istic" is the adjectival counterpart used when a writer wants to describe the character of something rather than a person. Because the word follows a common pattern, it is a transparent coinage rather than one with a separate story of its own.

Synonyms: mystical, esoteric, supernatural