Word a Day
arcane
What does arcane mean?
arcane (adjective): requiring secret or mysterious knowledge to understand.
Definition: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
How do you use arcane in a sentence?
- The arcane science of dowsing. (Princeton WordNet 3.1)
How do you pronounce arcane?
/ˌɑɹˈkeɪn/ (IPA, American English). The app reads every word aloud.
Where does arcane come from?
Borrowed from Latin arcānus (“hidden, secret”), from arceō (“to shut up, enclose”); cognate with Latin arca (“a chest”).
Etymology: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Test yourself: do you know “arcane”?
Tap an answer to check it. The same questions the app asks.
What does “arcane” mean?
caused by or evidencing a mentally disturbed condition
Not quite: that's what pathological means.
reddish in color, especially of the face, fire, or sky
Not quite: that's what ruddy means.
without any attempt at concealment; completely obvious
Not quite: that's what blatant means.
requiring secret or mysterious knowledge to understand
Right! That's what “arcane” means.
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