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Occult vs Mystery - What's the difference?

occult | mystery |

As nouns the difference between occult and mystery

is that occult is usually with the Supernatural affairs while mystery is something secret or unexplainable; an unknown.

As a verb occult

is to cover or hide from view.

As an adjective occult

is secret; hidden from general knowledge; undetected.

occult

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • (astronomy) To cover or hide from view.
  • The earth occults the moon during a lunar eclipse.
  • (rare) To dissimulate, conceal, or obfuscate.
  • Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (lb) Secret; hidden from general knowledge; undetected
  • :
  • *(Isaac Taylor) (1787–1865)
  • *:It is of an occult kind, and is so insensible in its advances as to escape observation.
  • Related to the occult; pertaining to mysticism, magic, or astrology.
  • Esoteric.
  • *
  • *:Elbows almost touching they leaned at ease, idly reading the almost obliterated lines engraved there. ¶ ("I never) understood it," she observed, lightly scornful. "What occult meaning has a sun-dial for the spooney? I'm sure I don't want to read riddles in a strange gentleman's optics."
  • Derived terms

    * occult line

    Noun

    (-)
  • Supernatural affairs.
  • mystery

    English

    Noun

    (mysteries)
  • Something secret or unexplainable; an unknown.
  • *{{quote-book, year=1927, author= F. E. Penny
  • , chapter=4, title= Pulling the Strings , passage=The case was that of a murder. It had an element of mystery about it, however, which was puzzling the authorities. A turban and loincloth soaked in blood had been found; also a staff.}}
  • Someone or something with an obscure or puzzling nature.
  • * (Jonathan Swift) (1667–1745)
  • If God should please to reveal unto us this great mystery of the Trinity, or some other mysteries in our holy religion, we should not be able to understand them, unless he would bestow on us some new faculties of the mind.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1905, author=
  • , title= , chapter=5 citation , passage=Then I had a good think on the subject of the hocussing of Cigarette, and I was reluctantly bound to admit that once again the man in the corner had found the only possible solution to the mystery .}}
  • (label) A particular event or series of events in the life of Christ.
  • A secret religious celebration, to which none were admitted except those who had been initiated.
  • Synonyms

    * roun (obsolete)

    Derived terms

    * mysterious * mystery play

    References

    * Mysteries: http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1867-c1/ch15.htm
  • S9