adepts

An adept is a person who has achieved a high level of skill or mastery in a particular field. The word derives from the Latin adeptus, meaning attained or obtained, from ad- “toward” and aptus “fit, suitable.”

In esoteric and occult traditions, adepts are practitioners who have completed initiation or advanced study within a system of knowledge or magical practice. The term is historically associated with Western mysticism, alchemy, and ceremonial magic, and in some orders denotes a member who has reached an elevated degree and bears responsibility for the transmission of teachings. The specifics—how one becomes an adept, the rites involved, and the powers attributed—vary by tradition. Where used, the title implies discipline, secrecy, and spiritual or intellectual attainment.

In modern usage, adept is also a general adjective meaning skilled or proficient, as in “adept at languages.” The plural adepts can refer to individuals widely recognized for their skill, or to members of a tradition described as adepts in a historical or esoteric sense. The term thus carries both a broad, secular usage and more specialized meanings tied to certain spiritual or occult lineages.