arcanum

American  

[ahr-key-nuhm] / ɑrˈkeɪ nəm /

noun

PLURAL

arcana

1. Often arcana secret or arcane knowledge, acquired or understood by only a few.

   If you enjoy the arcana of early baseball, this book is for you.

2. a supposed great secret of nature that the alchemists sought to discover.

3. a secret and powerful remedy; elixir.

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arcanum British  

/ ɑːˈkeɪnəm /

noun

1. (sometimes plural) a profound secret or mystery known only to initiates

2. a secret of nature sought by alchemists

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Etymology

Origin of arcanum

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin, neuter (used as noun) of arcānus arcane ( def. )

Example Sentences

For audiences weary of superheroic bombast and worn out from puzzling through art house arcana, “CODA” is here to save the day.

From Washington Post

What Carax and his Sparks collaborators consider deep begins to look awfully like self-indulgence that has disappeared up its own arcana.

From Washington Post

Biden confronts a complex chore, which blends rewriting the tax code’s eye-glazing arcana with the diplomatic puzzle of satisfying the interests of both advanced and developing nations.

From Washington Post

She said that she had been a “Washington Week” viewer since college, and that she wanted to widen the scope of a show sometimes steeped in D.C. arcana.

From New York Times

There are 22 major arcana cards, and they tend to deal with big life events and overarching themes, for example, relationships, career and love.

From New York Times