Occultus

Part of speech: adjective, noun

Definitions

1. Relating to hidden knowledge or practices often associated with mysticism and the supernatural
2. involving secrets that are not easily understood by the general population
3. pertaining to phenomena or beliefs that are beyond the realm of ordinary experience

Etymology: "Occultus" is the Latin past participle of "occulere," meaning "to cover over, hide, conceal," built from "ob" (over, against) and "celare" (to hide). Its original sense was entirely physical: a thing that was hidden from view, or a hidden place. The meaning of concealment carries into the adjective "occult," which in Latin could describe anything secret or out of sight. Over time the sense shifted from the concrete to the mysterious. Something hidden from ordinary perception came to suggest knowledge reserved for a select few, and eventually the supernatural or spiritual realm that lies beyond everyday experience. English took the adjective and noun "occult" from this Latin base, and the word now covers practices and beliefs such as astrology, alchemy, and magic.

Synonyms: hidden, secret, mystic, esoteric, arcane

Antonyms: open, known, public, obvious, manifest