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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

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 especially to eclipses of stars and planets by the
moon, and to the eclipses of satellites of planets by
their primaries.
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2. (Fig.:) The state of being occult.
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The reappearance of such an author after those long
periods of occultation. --Jeffrey.
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{Circle of perpetual occultation}. See under {Circle}.
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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.
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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.
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That fatal and perfidious bark,
Built in the eclipse, and rigged with curses
dark. --Milton.
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2. The loss, usually temporary or partial, of light,
brilliancy, luster, honor, consciousness, etc.;
obscuration; gloom; darkness.
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All the posterity of our fist parents suffered a
perpetual eclipse of spiritual life. --Sir W.
Raleigh.
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As in the soft and sweet eclipse,
When soul meets soul on lovers' lips. --Shelley.
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{Annular eclipse}. (Astron.) See under {Annular}.

{Cycle of eclipses}. See under {Cycle}.
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