arcane

[ahr-keyn]

adjective

1. known or understood by very few; mysterious; secret; obscure; esoteric.

   She knew a lot about Sanskrit grammar and other arcane matters.

arcane

/ ɑːˈkeɪn /

adjective

1. requiring secret knowledge to be understood; mysterious; esoteric

Other Word Forms

• arcanely adverb
• arcaneness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of arcane¹

First recorded in 1540–50; from Middle French, from Latin arcānus, from arc(ēre) “to enclose, restrain, ward off” (derivative of arca “box, chest, coffer”) + -ānus -an

Word History and Origins

Origin of arcane¹

C16: from Latin arcānus secret, hidden, from arcēre to shut up, keep safe

Example Sentences

I am thankful for all the arcane references to pop culture I have at my disposal to frame the workings of a true coward like Hegseth.

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Carr has called those limits “arcane” and “artificial,” and has argued that they put local station owners at a disadvantage compared with companies like Netflix Inc.

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Carr has called those limits “arcane” and “artificial,” and has argued that they put local station owners at a disadvantage compared with companies like Netflix Inc.

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Called proposition bets, they allow bettors to focus on often arcane statistical achievements or odd occurrences.

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She knows, vaguely, it has something to do with how California draws the boundaries for its 52 congressional districts, a convoluted and arcane process that’s not exactly top of the mind for your average person.

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Related Words

• esoteric 
• impenetrable