occult
/ˈɒkʌlt/ (bre, ipa) · /əˈkʌlt/ (ame, ipa) · /ə-ˈkəlt ä-/ (ame, mw) · /əˈkʌlt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɑː.kʌlt/ (ame, ipa)
occult — 形容詞
- occultpositive
- more occultcomparative
- most occultsuperlative
1. involving the use of, or belief in, magic powers and forces from beyond the natu
神秘學的
與魔法、巫術等超自然事物有關的
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.
Yael 花了兩年時間研究刻在中世紀教堂牆上的神秘學符號。
attributive: occult + noun (symbols, practices, ritual)
The novel follows Indra, a young historian who uncovers an occult ritual hidden in her family's home.
這部小說描寫 Indra，一位年輕歷史學家，發現自家屋裡藏著一場神秘學儀式。
Many villagers refused to enter the abandoned house, believing it was the site of occult activity.
許多村民不敢踏進那間廢棄的房子，認為那裡是進行神秘學活動的場所。
Naoko's grandmother kept a small drawer of occult charms meant to ward off bad luck.
Naoko 的奶奶留了一小抽屜的神秘學護符，用來避邪。
- 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
隱密的
刻意藏起來、不讓人看見的
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.
這份條約裡有好幾條隱密條款，只有資深外交官才知道。
attributive: occult + clauses / motive / agreement
Zayd realised the small door behind the bookshelf had been kept occult for decades.
Zayd 才發現書架後面那扇小門已經被隱藏了幾十年。
predicative: be kept occult
Amelia distrusted her cousin's occult reasons for selling the farmhouse so suddenly.
Amelia 不信任她表親突然賣掉農莊背後那些隱密的理由。
The painter signed her name in tiny letters, occult to anyone standing more than a metre away.
畫家把名字簽成很小的字，站在一公尺外就看不到了。
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
晦澀難解的
難以用常理理解、含義深奧的
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.
Ezra 的論文試圖解釋一系列中世紀錢幣設計背後晦澀難解的意涵。
attributive: occult meaning / sense / reasoning
The professor laughed at the question, calling it a child's curiosity about occult matters of physics.
教授笑了出來，說那個問題只是小孩對物理深奧之處的好奇而已。
There is an occult logic to the way Zola arranges her bookshelves, and no friend has ever guessed it.
Zola 擺書架有一套晦澀難解的邏輯，沒有朋友猜得出來。
Some passages of the old manuscript remain occult, resisting every attempt at modern translation.
那份古手稿有些段落仍然晦澀難解，怎麼用現代語言翻譯都不通。
- 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 — 名詞
1. the world of magic, spirits, and supernatural forces taken together — also the s
神秘學
與魔法、靈異、超自然力量有關的領域
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.
Élise 讀了祖父從開羅寄回的信之後，便迷上了神秘學。
fixed pattern: the occult (always with definite article)
A small bookshop on the corner sold rare texts on the occult and on local folklore.
街角有間小書店，賣關於神秘學和當地民俗的稀有書籍。
collocation: text on the occult / study of the occult
Shanti's parents warned her to stay away from anything connected with the occult.
Shanti 的父母告誡她遠離任何與神秘學有關的東西。
Television documentaries about the occult drew large audiences during the autumn season.
秋季時，談論神秘學的電視紀錄片總是吸引大批觀眾。
- 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 — 動詞
- 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
遮掩；掩星
在天文學上指一天體擋住另一天體
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.
週五晚上月亮會把土星掩住將近一小時。
core astronomy collocation: [Moon/planet] occults [body]
Mauricio waited on the roof for the asteroid that would occult a faint blue star.
Mauricio 在屋頂上等那顆即將掩住一顆暗藍色恆星的小行星。
A thick bank of fog occulted the harbour lights from the ferry passengers.
一片濃霧把港口的燈火從渡輪乘客眼前遮了起來。
The new building will occult the cathedral spire from most of the high street.
新建的大樓會把大教堂的尖塔從大半條大街上擋住。
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'.