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occultation

1. (Science: astronomy) The hiding of a heavenly body from sight by the intervention of some other of the heavenly bodies; applied especially to eclipses of stars and planets by the moon, and to the eclipses of satellites of planets by their primaries.

2. The state of being occult. The reappearance of such an author after those long periods of occultation. (Jeffrey) circle of perpetual occultation. See Circle.

Origin: L. Occultatio a hiding, fr. Occultare, v. Intens. Of occulere: cf.F. Occultation. See Occult.