occultation

Oc`cul*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. occultatio a hiding, fr. occultare, v. intens. of occulere: cf.F. occultation. See Occult.] 1. (Astron.) Defn: 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. Fig.: The state of being occult. The reappearance of such an author after those long periods of occultation. Jeffrey. Circle of perpetual occultation. See under Circle.

---