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Occult vs Subtle - What's the difference?

occult | subtle |

As adjectives the difference between occult and subtle

is that occult is (lb) secret; hidden from general knowledge; undetected while subtle is hard to grasp; not obvious or easily understood; barely noticeable.

As a verb occult

is (astronomy) to cover or hide from view.

As a noun occult

is supernatural affairs.

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.
  • subtle

    English

    Alternative forms

    * subtil (obsolete) * subtile (obsolete)

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Hard to grasp; not obvious or easily understood; barely noticeable.
  • The difference is subtle , but you can hear it if you listen carefully.
  • (of a thing) Cleverly contrived.
  • (of a person or animal) Cunning, skillful.
  • insidious
  • * 1623 , , act iv, scene 4,
  • Thy age confirmed, proud, subtle , bloody, treacherous.
  • Tenuous; rarefied; of low density or thin consistency.
  • Synonyms

    * crafty, cunning, skillful * (insidious) insidious

    Antonyms

    * (hard to grasp) simple

    Derived terms

    * subtle body * subtleness * subtlety * subtly

    References

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    Anagrams

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