arcane

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin arcānus (“hidden, secret”), from arceō (“to shut up, enclose”); cognate with arca (“a chest”).

Pronunciation

Adjective

arcane (comparative more arcane, superlative most arcane)

  1. understood by only a few
  2. obscure, mysterious
  3. requiring secret or mysterious knowledge to understand.
    • 1997: Chris Horrocks, Introducing Foucault, page 67, The Renaissance Episteme (Totem Books, Icon Books; →ISBN
      A “signature” was placed on all things by God to indicate their affinities — but it was hidden, hence the search for arcane knowledge. Knowing was guessing and interpreting, not observing or demonstrating.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Translations

References

  • arcane in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
  • arcane in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
  • arcane at OneLook Dictionary Search

Anagrams

French

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /aʁ.kan/

Adjective

arcane (plural arcanes)

  1. (archaic) arcane, secret, mysterious

Noun

arcane m (plural arcanes)

  1. (chiefly in the plural) mysteries, arcanum

Further reading

Italian

Adjective

arcane f

  1. feminine plural of arcano

Anagrams

Latin

Adjective

arcāne

  1. vocative masculine singular of arcānus
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