n.those ancient or modern arts and sciences reputed to involve the
knowledge or
use of
secret and mysterious forces or agencies and the attempted human
control of these. Occult comes from a
Latin word meaning to
cover over, hide, conceal, and refers to hidden or
secret knowledge of things which are said to be beyond
normal understanding and not bound by the strict
laws of
science. There are a wide
range of beliefs or practices considered to be part of the occult, such as magic and witchcraft, communicating with the
dead, the seeing or
telling of the
future, as well as attempting to discover a means to indefinitely prolong
life or
create a
single cure for all diseases.
secret; disclosed or communicated only to the
initiated.