occultly


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oc·cult

 (ə-kŭlt′, ŏk′ŭlt′)
adj.
1. Of, relating to, or dealing with supernatural or magical influences, agencies, or occurrences: occult astrological powers.
2. Available only to the initiate; secret or mysterious: occult lore. See Synonyms at mysterious.
3. Beyond the realm of human comprehension; inscrutable: The causes of those phenomena remain occult.
4. Hidden from view; concealed: "Hatchlings and juveniles ... keep to this occult place through all the seasons" (David M. Carroll).
5.
a. Medicine Detectable only by microscopic examination or chemical analysis, as a minute blood sample.
b. Not accompanied by readily detectable signs or symptoms: occult carcinoma.
n.
Occult practices or techniques: a student of the occult.
v. (ə-kŭlt′) oc·cult·ed, oc·cult·ing, oc·cults
v.tr.
1. To conceal or cause to disappear from view.
2. Astronomy To conceal by occultation: The moon occulted Mars.
v.intr.
To become concealed or extinguished at regular intervals: a lighthouse beacon that occults every 45 seconds.

[Latin occultus, secret, past participle of occulere, to cover over; see kel- in Indo-European roots.]

oc·cult′ly adv.
oc·cult′ness n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
References in classic literature ?
The boy with the billiard ball said that he had never seen it in his life before, and hazarded the suggestion that it had got into his box through some mysterious and occultly evil agency.
Unseen and occultly, the gods still gripped with their power and would not let her go.
The man could not express himself by word nor look nor touch without weaving into the expression, subtly and occultly, the feeling as of a hand that passed and that in passing stroked softly and soothingly.