occultation

occultation
Eclipse E*clipse" ([-e]*kl[i^]ps"), n. [F. ['e]clipse, L. eclipsis, fr. Gr. 'e`kleipsis, prop., a forsaking, failing, fr. 'eklei`pein to leave out, forsake; 'ek out + lei`pein to leave. See {Ex-}, and {Loan}.] 1. (Astron.) An interception or obscuration of the light of the sun, moon, or other luminous body, by the intervention of some other body, either between it and the eye, or between the luminous body and that illuminated by it. A lunar eclipse is caused by the moon passing through the earth's shadow; a solar eclipse, by the moon coming between the sun and the observer. A satellite is eclipsed by entering the shadow of its primary. The obscuration of a planet or star by the moon or a planet, though of the nature of an eclipse, is called an {occultation}. The eclipse of a small portion of the sun by Mercury or Venus is called a {transit} of the planet. [1913 Webster]

Note: In ancient times, eclipses were, and among unenlightened people they still are, superstitiously regarded as forerunners of evil fortune, a sentiment of which occasional use is made in literature. [1913 Webster]

That fatal and perfidious bark, Built in the eclipse, and rigged with curses dark. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

2. The loss, usually temporary or partial, of light, brilliancy, luster, honor, consciousness, etc.; obscuration; gloom; darkness. [1913 Webster]

All the posterity of our fist parents suffered a perpetual eclipse of spiritual life. --Sir W. Raleigh. [1913 Webster]

As in the soft and sweet eclipse, When soul meets soul on lovers' lips. --Shelley. [1913 Webster]

{Annular eclipse}. (Astron.) See under {Annular}.

{Cycle of eclipses}. See under {Cycle}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • occultation — [ ɔkyltasjɔ̃ ] n. f. • 1488; lat. occultatio 1 ♦ Astron. Disparition passagère (d un astre) par l interposition d un astre apparemment plus grand. ⇒ éclipse. Occultation d une étoile par la lune. 2 ♦ Action d occulter (une source lumineuse). 3 ♦… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Occultation — Oc cul*ta tion, n. [L. occultatio a hiding, fr. occultare, v. intens. of occulere: cf. F. occultation. See {Occult}.] 1. (Astron.) The hiding of a heavenly body from sight by the intervention of some other of the heavenly bodies; applied… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Occultation — etc., s. Okkultation etc …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • occultation — index obscuration Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • occultation — (n.) early 15c., disguise or concealment of identity, from L. occultationem (nom. occultatio), noun of action from pp. stem of occultare, frequentative of occulere (see OCCULT (Cf. occult)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • occultation — [äk΄ul tā′shən] n. [ME occultacioun < L occultatio, a hiding < occultus: see OCCULT] 1. the state of becoming hidden or of disappearing from view 2. Astron. the disappearance of a celestial body behind a closer, apparently larger celestial… …   English World dictionary

  • Occultation — See also: Occult (disambiguation) In this July 1997 still frame captured from video, the bright star Aldebaran has just reappeared on the dark limb of the waning crescent moon in this predawn occultation. An occultation is an event that occurs… …   Wikipedia

  • Occultation — Pour le concept musulman, voir Occultation (islam). Une occultation est un phénomène de recouvrement apparent d un élément par un autre …   Wikipédia en Français

  • occultation — (o kul ta sion ; en vers, de cinq syllabes) s. f. 1°   Terme d astronomie. Passage d une étoile ou d une planète derrière la lune qui la cache ; d un satellite derrière sa planète. L occultation des satellites de Jupiter. •   Il [Aristote] a vu… …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • occultation — /ok ul tay sheuhn/, n. 1. Astron. the passage of one celestial body in front of another, thus hiding the other from view: applied esp. to the moon s coming between an observer and a star or planet. 2. disappearance from view or notice. 3. the act …   Universalium

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