arcane
[ ahr-keyn ]
/ ɑrˈkeɪn /
adjective
known or understood by very few; mysterious; secret; obscure; esoteric: She knew a lot about Sanskrit grammar and other arcane matters.
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Origin of arcane
1540–50; (<Middle French ) <Latin arcānus, equivalent to arc(ēre) to shut up, keep (derivative of arca a chest, box) + -ānus-an
Words nearby arcane
Arcadian, Arcadic, Arcado-Cyprian, Arcady, arcana, arcane, arcanist, arcanum, arcanum arcanorum, Arcaro, Arcas
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
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British Dictionary definitions for arcane
arcane
/ (ɑːˈkeɪn) /
adjective
requiring secret knowledge to be understood; mysterious; esoteric
Derived forms of arcane
arcanely, adverbarcaneness, nounWord Origin for arcane
C16: from Latin arcānus secret, hidden, from arcēre to shut up, keep safe
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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