adj
arcane
ahr-KAYN
adj
1
Understood by very few people; mysterious and difficult to grasp because of how obscure or specialized it is.
"The tax code is full of arcane rules that even accountants struggle with."
"He was fascinated by arcane rituals described in old manuscripts."
How to Use Arcane
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSo obscure or specialized that hardly anyone understands it.
Common mistake
"Arcane" means obscure/secret knowledge; "archaic" means old-fashioned or no longer in common use — a rule can be arcane without being old.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
arcane knowledge
arcane rules
arcane rituals
Word Forms
more arcane comparative, most arcane superlative
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The tax code is full of _____ rules that even accountants struggle with.
Etymology
From Latin arcanus, "hidden, secret", from arceo, "to shut in or enclose".