Vocabulary Word
Word: occult
Definition: mysterious; secret; supernatural; beyond human comprehension; CF. mysterious to human ?; OP. bare
Definition: mysterious; secret; supernatural; beyond human comprehension; CF. mysterious to human ?; OP. bare
Sentences Containing 'occult'
I began to think of genii, sylphs, gnomes, in short, of all the ministers of the occult sciences, until I laughed aloud at the freaks of my own imagination.
No one now objects to following out the results consequent on this unknown element of attraction; notwithstanding that Leibnitz formerly accused Newton of introducing "occult qualities and miracles into philosophy."
After much debate, they concluded unanimously, that I was only _relplum scalcath_, which is interpreted literally _lusus naturæ_; a determination exactly agreeable to the modern philosophy of Europe, whose professors, disdaining the old evasion of occult causes, whereby the followers of Aristotle endeavoured in vain to disguise their ignorance, have invented this wonderful solution of all difficulties, to the unspeakable advancement of human knowledge.
His title, schoolmaster, would very naturally seem derived from the name bestowed upon the harem itself, but some have surmised that the man who first thus entitled this sort of Ottoman whale, must have read the memoirs of Vidocq, and informed himself what sort of a country-schoolmaster that famous Frenchman was in his younger days, and what was the nature of those occult lessons he inculcated into some of his pupils.
More Vocab Words
::: macabre - gruesome; grisly; ghastly; CF. of death::: peremptory - demanding and leaving no choice; imperative; Ex. peremptory decree/knock
::: bode - foreshadow; portend
::: abash - embarrass
::: impeccable - faultless
::: feint - trick; shift; sham blow; feigned attack to draw away defensive action; V.
::: combustible - easily burned; N. CF. combustion
::: temerity - boldness; nerve; rashness; Ex. temerity to ask for a pay increase after only three day's work
::: equivocal - (of words or statements) ambiguous; intentionally misleading; (of behavior) questionable; OP. unequivocal
::: writhe - twist in coils; contort in pain
