Words / C2

ah-KAYN/ɑːˈkeɪn/

Arcane means understood by only a few; mysteriously obscure: arcane rules, arcane symbolism. Obscure is everyday; esoteric is a close synonym; mysterious can be atmospheric without implying a guild of insiders. In speech, known only to insiders or impossibly obscure is enough. Use it when the difficulty is specialised knowledge, not when a text is merely badly written.

Meaning

Understood by only a few; mysteriously obscure.

Examples

• “The rules of the old exam felt arcane.”
• “The appeals procedure was arcane even to the office that administered it.”
• “She enjoyed arcane footnotes; the students needed the argument in the open.”

Good to know

Insider-obscure. Everyday: obscure. Close: esoteric. Of rules, lore, specialisms — not mere poor style.

Near in meaning

esoteric

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