Occultation
/ˌɒkʌlˈteɪʃən/noun
The act of hiding or concealing something, particularly in an astronomical context.
Did you know?In astronomy, an occultation occurs when one celestial body obscures another, symbolically reflecting the concept of hidden knowledge and secrets in the universe.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
occultatio
“a hiding or concealing, derived from 'occultus' meaning hidden.”
Middle French
French
occultation
“the act of hiding, borrowed from Latin.”
Early Modern English
English
occultation
“the astronomical term for one celestial body hiding another.”
19th Century
English
occultation
“used in both astronomy and metaphorically in mysticism to signify hidden truths.”