occultness

[English occult; -ne .] The quality or state of being occult, hidden, or secret; secrecy. oc-cu-pan-çỹ, s. [Eng. occupan ( t ); -cy.] I. Ordinary Language: 1. The act of occupying or taking po e ion. 2. The act of occupying or holding in po e ion; the time during which one occupies or has po e ion of anything; the time during which one is an occupant. 2891 II. Law : The taking po e ion of those things which before belonged to nobody, and the right acquired by so taking po e ion. This, the original and only primitive method of acquiring any property, has been restrained and abridged by the laws of society, in order to maintain peace and harmony among mankind. For this purpose, gifts, contracts, wills, legacies, ., have been introduced, in order to transfer and continue that property and po e ion in things personal which has once been acquired by the owner. In some few instances this original right of occupancy is still permitted and recognized. Thus the benefits of the elements, the light, the air, and water can only be appropriated by occupancy.