occultus Latin · revision 18017

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=ine-pro *ḱel-}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''occultus''' (feminine ''occulta'', neuter ''occultum''; comparative ''occultior'', superlative ''occultissimus''); first/second-declension adjective^(OLD 2012)

+ The Senate's decree on the Bacchanalia has the ablative ''oquoltod'', with a hypercorrect ''-quol-''.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the perfect passive participle of [[m|la|occulō|t=to hide]], used as an adjective.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) De Vaan derives [[m|la|occulō]] from [[m|la|ob-]] and [[itc-pro|*kele/o-]], from [[ine-pro|*ḱel-e/o-|t=to hide]], cognate with [[sga|ceilid|t=hides]] and [[ang|helan|t=to hide]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus has ''hī saltem in occultīs locīs prōstant'', “these at least sell themselves in hidden places”, and ''cocleae in occultō latent'', “snails lie hidden”.^(OLD 2012) Köbler first records it in Cicero.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Occultus'' is “hidden from sight, concealed”, and of the forces of nature “unseen, secret” (Virgil).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) It is “kept secret, clandestine” (Cicero), “esoteric”, of rites, and as a neuter plural ''occulta'', “secrets” (Terence).^(OLD 2012) Of persons it is “acting secretly” and “dissembling, close”, and of things “hidden from the understanding, obscure”.^(OLD 2012) Set phrases are ''in occultō'' “in hiding, in secret”, ''ex occultō'' “from hiding”, and ''per occultum'' “secretly”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: ''in occultīs locīs''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence: ''omnia mea occulta''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of a secret greed.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|hidden]], concealed.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # [[m|en|secret]], clandestine; esoteric.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Acting secretly; reserved, dissembling.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Obscure, [[m|en|recondite]].^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(neuter plural)'' Secrets.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[occulō]]

+ * [[occultō]]

+ * [[cēlō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}