'occultist' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'occultus', where 'occult-' meant 'hidden' and the agent suffix '-ist' (via Latin/Greek) denotes 'person associated with'.

'occultist' changed from the Late Latin/English formation based on Latin 'occultus' (through English 'occult') combined with the suffix '-ist', and eventually became the modern English word 'occultist'.

Initially it related to the idea of 'hidden' or 'secret'; over time it came to mean 'relating to hidden or secret knowledge/practices', and now commonly denotes 'a person who studies or practices those arts'.