The
occult (from the
Latin word
occultus "clandestine, hidden, secret") is "knowledge of the hidden". In common
English usage,
occult refers to "knowledge of the
paranormal", as opposed to "knowledge of the
measurable", usually referred to as
science. The term is sometimes taken to mean knowledge that "is meant only for certain people" or that "must be kept hidden", but for most practicing occultists it is simply the study of a deeper spiritual reality that extends beyond
pure reason and the physical sciences. The terms
esoteric and
arcane can also be used to describe the occult, in addition to their meanings unrelated to the supernatural.