Arcane

Arcane

ärˈkān

Adjective

  • Understood by few; mysterious or secret.

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Example Sentences

“This new book opens up the arcane subject to a larger audience.”

“Her interest in arcane artifacts was rooted in her love of medieval history.”

“His arcane knowledge made him an in-demand speaker.” 

Word Origin

Latin, mid-16th century

Why this word?

You might think all knowledge is meant to be shared, but the roots of “arcane” imply a secretive nature. The Latin word “arcānus” means “secret or hidden,” and that comes from “arceō,” which means “to shut something up,” as if in a chest. Over the years, “arcane” has acquired a flavor of the occult about it, but it doesn’t necessarily mean something associated with witchcraft or sorcery. A synonym for the adjective is “esoteric,” which is used to describe things understood by only a select few.  

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ˈlāˌbīl