Relating to supernatural, mystical, or magical beliefs and practices. Hidden from ordinary understanding or kept secret.
From Latin occultus meaning 'hidden, concealed,' past participle of occludere 'to shut up, hide.' The astronomical sense of one celestial body hiding another preserves the original meaning.
In astronomy, an 'occultation' occurs when one celestial body passes in front of another, temporarily hiding it - the same Latin root gives us both the mystical 'occult' and this precise scientific term for cosmic hide-and-seek.
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