occult
/ˈɒkʌlt/ (bre, ipa) · /əˈkʌlt/ (ame, ipa) · /ə-ˈkəlt ä-/ (ame, mw) · /əˈkʌlt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɑː.kʌlt/ (ame, ipa)
occult — adjective
- occultpositive
- more occultcomparative
- most occultsuperlative
1. involving the use of, or belief in, magic powers and forces from beyond the natu
involving the use of, or belief in, magic powers and forces from beyond the natural world — including practices such as witchcraft, astrology, and contact with spirits.
Yael spent two years studying occult symbols carved into medieval church walls.
attributive: occult + noun (symbols, practices, ritual)
The novel follows Indra, a young historian who uncovers an occult ritual hidden in her family's home.
Many villagers refused to enter the abandoned house, believing it was the site of occult activity.
Naoko's grandmother kept a small drawer of occult charms meant to ward off bad luck.
- supernatural
broader and more neutral — covers anything beyond natural laws, not specifically magical practice
- esoteric
emphasises hidden knowledge known only to a small group, not necessarily magical
- magical
everyday word; lacks the dark, secretive overtone of 'occult'
- scientific
based on evidence and natural laws rather than supernatural belief
文法句型
the occult + noun
用法筆記
Almost always attributive — modifies a following noun (occult powers, occult ritual, occult knowledge). Rarely appears after 'be' on its own.
常見錯誤
2. out of sight or kept secret — describing something that is deliberately conceale
out of sight or kept secret — describing something that is deliberately concealed, or that is not visible to a particular observer.
The treaty contained several occult clauses that only the senior diplomats knew about.
attributive: occult + clauses / motive / agreement
Zayd realised the small door behind the bookshelf had been kept occult for decades.
predicative: be kept occult
Amelia distrusted her cousin's occult reasons for selling the farmhouse so suddenly.
The painter signed her name in tiny letters, occult to anyone standing more than a metre away.
文法句型
occult to + noun
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is about secrecy or invisibility, not magic. Often appears in formal or literary writing about politics, contracts, or buried objects.
常見錯誤
3. beyond the reach of ordinary thought — so puzzling that a reasonable person cann
beyond the reach of ordinary thought — so puzzling that a reasonable person cannot work out what it means from logic or common sense alone (for example, an obscure poem or a strange mathematical pattern).
Ezra's dissertation tried to explain the occult meaning behind a series of medieval coin designs.
attributive: occult meaning / sense / reasoning
The professor laughed at the question, calling it a child's curiosity about occult matters of physics.
There is an occult logic to the way Zola arranges her bookshelves, and no friend has ever guessed it.
Some passages of the old manuscript remain occult, resisting every attempt at modern translation.
- obvious
easy to see or understand
- transparent
easy to read or interpret
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2 ('hidden'): this sense is about something being too obscure to understand, not about being physically out of sight. From sense 1: nothing magical is implied — just intellectual difficulty.
常見錯誤
occult — noun
1. the world of magic, spirits, and supernatural forces taken together — also the s
the world of magic, spirits, and supernatural forces taken together — also the study of these forces and the people who practise them.
Élise became fascinated with the occult after reading her grandfather's letters from Cairo.
fixed pattern: the occult (always with definite article)
A small bookshop on the corner sold rare texts on the occult and on local folklore.
collocation: text on the occult / study of the occult
Shanti's parents warned her to stay away from anything connected with the occult.
Television documentaries about the occult drew large audiences during the autumn season.
- supernatural (the supernatural)
broader; covers ghosts and miracles, not just magical practice
- esoterica
more academic; emphasises hidden or specialist knowledge
文法句型
the occult
用法筆記
Almost always preceded by 'the'. Uncountable — not 'an occult' or 'two occults'. Often paired with verbs like 'study', 'practise', 'believe in', 'be drawn to'.
常見錯誤
occult — verb
- occultpresent simple I / you / we / they
- occults3rd person singular
- occulting-ing form
- occultedpast simple
1. to pass in front of another object so that it cannot be seen — most often used i
to pass in front of another object so that it cannot be seen — most often used in astronomy, when one body in space (a moon, planet, or asteroid) blocks our view of another by moving between us and it.
On Friday night the Moon will occult Saturn for almost an hour.
core astronomy collocation: [Moon/planet] occults [body]
Mauricio waited on the roof for the asteroid that would occult a faint blue star.
A thick bank of fog occulted the harbour lights from the ferry passengers.
The new building will occult the cathedral spire from most of the high street.
文法句型
occult + noun
用法筆記
Mostly a technical astronomy verb. Outside astronomy, sounds literary; ordinary writing uses 'block', 'cover', or 'hide from view'.