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occulte

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Etymology and origin of the Latin word occulte

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
220–130 BC, Pacuvius
Ultimate origin
Proto-Indo-European (*ḱel-e/o-)

Forms

occultē (comparative occultius, superlative occultissimē)[1]

Etymology

It is the adverb of occultus (“hidden, secret”), formed with -ē.[2][1][3] The adjective is the participle of occulō (“to hide”), which de Vaan explains as ob- with a present Proto-Italic *kele/o-, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱel-e/o- (“to hide”), the root also of cēlō (“to conceal”).[4] Cognate with Old Irish ceilid (“hides”), Old English helan (“to hide”) and Gothic 𐌷𐌿𐌻𐌾𐌰𐌽 (huljan, “to cover”).[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Pacuvius has “this is what Oeax darkly foretold would happen”;[2] Köbler gives Terence as its first author.[3]

Semantic evolution

It is without being noticed, secretly, in private or furtively, and of natural processes imperceptibly, as Lucretius' iron ploughshare that wears away unseen in the fields.[2][1] Of statements it is obscurely or by hints and insinuations, as in Pacuvius.[2]

Köbler finds it in the Bible, glossaries and the Burgundian law code.[3]

Timeline

  • 220–130 BC – Pacuvius of an obscure prophecy.[2][3]
  • 190–159 BC – Terence.[3]
  • 96–55 BC – Lucretius of a ploughshare wearing away.[2][3]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. Secretly, in private, furtively; imperceptibly.[2][1]
  2. Obscurely, by hints.[2]

Usage notes

Döderlein notes that cēlāre refers to keeping knowledge secret, the opposite of confessing, while occulere and occultāre refer to hiding material things from sight, the opposite of uncovering; in the same way clam, secretly, is opposed to palam.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ a b de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  5. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
Cite this entry

“Occulte.” Etymologically, 19 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/occulte. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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