The Collaborative International Dictionary
Occult \Oc*cult"\,
[L. occultus, p. p. of occulere to cover up, hide; ob (see Ob-) + a root pro
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akin to E. hell: cf. F. occulte.] Hidden from the eye or the understanding; invisible; secret; concealed; unknown.
It is of an occult kind, and is so insensible in its advances as to escape observation.
--I. Taylor.Occult line (Geom.), a line drawn as a part of the construction of a figure or problem, but not to appear in the finished plan.
Occult qualities, those qualities whose effects only were observed, but the nature and relations of whose productive agencies were undetermined; -- so called by the schoolmen.
Occult sciences, those sciences of the Middle Ages which related to the supposed action or influence of occult qualities, or supernatural powers, as alchemy, magic, necromancy, and astrology.
Usage examples of "occult sciences".
The two sorceresses, of the Island of Britain and of Canopus respectively, are created to suggest the world of fortune tellers and dealers in occult sciences with whom Hadrian liked to surround himself.
When you speak of occult sciences, what exactly do you have in mind?
They took advantage of the general ignorance, and the convention of mystery, in just the same way as their modern successors do in the matter of all Occult sciences.
His books on the occult sciences alone numbered in their thousands.
On joining the Order, all of them must have sworn `to prosecute with zeal the study of the occult sciences'.
I began to think of genii, sylphs, gnomes, in short, of all the ministers of the occult sciences, until I laughed aloud at the freaks of my own imagination.
We entered the next room and crossed the four rooms after it, all with windows, and all filled with volumes in unknown languages, in addition to some texts of occult sciences.
Beatrice was as certain of Monkcrest's disdain for the occult sciences as she was of his sanity.
In answer to your question, I, and many others in the Vanzagarian Society, are convinced that the mysteries of the ancient occult sciences are not magical in nature.
Jameson and myself have visited several of the fortune-tellers and practitioners of the occult sciences in which we had reason to believe Miss Gilbert was interested.