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

Of course, rather than the arcanum of regulation, what most Americans worry about today are economic growth, jobs, and the federal debt.

From Forbes • Feb. 14, 2012

Now, we have a plan of our own to propose, in which, we think, resides the grand arcanum of social regeneration.

From Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, No. 457 Volume 18, New Series, October 2, 1852 by Chambers, William

There is, to be sure, an arcanum of prosodic theory which is the province of specialists.

From The Principles of English Versification by Baum, Paull Franklin

When it was granted me by the Lord to speak with spirits and angels, the foregoing arcanum was at once disclosed to me.

From Angelic Wisdom about Divine Providence by Wunsch, William F.

They maintained that the Homeric fables were nothing less than an allegory, shadowing forth the mysteries of nature, and veiling an arcanum of the sciences physical and moral.

From Amenities of Literature Consisting of Sketches and Characters of English Literature by Disraeli, Isaac