occult

英 [ə'kʌlt] 美 [ə'kʌlt]

adj.不可思议的；神秘的；超自然的 n.神秘学

GRE SAT

◉Etymology

“Occult” 这个词的词源可以追溯到16世纪，源自于拉丁语 occultus，意为“隐藏的，秘密的”。

◉外刊例句

① The group claimed to have knowledge of occult rituals.

该团体声称掌握了一些神秘的仪式知识。

——The New York Times - 2023年8月

② Many ancient civilizations had beliefs in occult forces.

许多古代文明都对神秘力量抱有信仰。

——The Guardian - 2023年10月

③ She delved into the study of occult practices in the Middle Ages.

她深入研究了中世纪的神秘实践。

——BBC News - 2024年1月

◉Usage Examples

(1) He and the black-leather fellow looked very occult.

(2) The occult rites of the organization were revealed only to its members.

(3) Astrology and alchemy are occult sciences.

(4) He's interested in witchcraft and the occult.

(1) 他和那个象黑皮革似的家伙显得很神秘。

(2) 这个组织的秘密礼仪只有其成员可以知道。

(3) 占星学和炼丹术为神秘之学。

(4) 他对巫术魔法情有独钟。

◉Usage note

Dark and mysterious, the occult is a kind of supernatural power or magic. If you see your neighbor chanting over a giant vat of bubbling brew in the middle of the night, there's a chance he's dabbling in the occult.

The word occult has its roots in the Latin occultus, meaning “hidden, secret.” That's why it can also be used as both a noun referring to black magic and an adjective meaning "difficult to see." Quipped the famous physicist Heinz Pagels, “I like to browse in occult bookshops if for no other reason than to refresh my commitment to science.”

◉Colins

1. [N-SING 单数名词]神秘学 The occult is the knowledge and study of supernatural or magical forces. [the N] [ADJ n]

① ...sinister experiments with the occult.

邪恶的神秘学实验

② ...books dealing with the occult.

有关神秘学的书籍

Occult is also an adjective.

③ ...organisations which campaign against paganism and occult practice.

发起反对异教和神秘习俗运动的组织