arcane
gb/ˌɑɹkˈeɪn/ us/ˌɑɹkˈeɪn/
C1
Anglais
Sens
0 sens
adjective
formal
C1
property
1
known by only a few
known only by a few people
Schéma d’usage :
arcane [knowledge/subject/ritual/term]
Erreur fréquente :
Often confused with 'archaic' (old-fashioned); 'arcane' means secret or known by few.
Synonymes
esoteric (More strongly suggests knowledge for a small, specialized group.)
|
secret (Focuses on being deliberately kept hidden.)
|
recondite (More literary; emphasizes being little known.)
Antonymes
well-known (Known by many people, not restricted to a few.)
|
common (Ordinary and widely familiar.)
Collocations
arcane knowledge
|arcane lore
|arcane subject
|arcane terminology
|arcane ritual
|arcane tradition
|arcane secrets
|arcane text
|arcane symbol
|arcane reference
Thèmes
knowledge
|communication
|mystery
Exemples
- The professor loved sharing arcane facts about medieval medicine.
- She dropped an arcane reference that only a few people in the room understood.
- The book is full of arcane symbols from an obscure tradition.
Exemples pédagogiques
- He has arcane knowledge of old maps.
- That word is arcane to most people.
adjective
formal
C1
property
2
hard to understand; obscure
difficult to understand; not clear
Schéma d’usage :
arcane [rules/details/process/jargon]; too arcane for [someone]
Erreur fréquente :
‘Arcane’ is stronger and more formal than ‘confusing’ and often implies specialist knowledge.
Synonymes
obscure (General lack of clarity; not necessarily specialist-only.)
|
cryptic (Suggests something like a coded or puzzling message.)
|
byzantine (Emphasizes needless complexity, especially of rules or bureaucracy.)
Antonymes
clear (Easy to understand.)
|
straightforward (Simple and not complicated.)
Collocations
arcane rules
|arcane details
|arcane process
|arcane procedures
|arcane regulations
|arcane jargon
|arcane formula
|arcane system
|arcane calculations
|arcane debate
Thèmes
education
|work
|technology
|law
Exemples
- The tax code is so arcane that even experienced accountants double-check it.
- They explained the policy in plain language instead of arcane legal jargon.
- The manual is written in arcane technical terms.
Exemples pédagogiques
- These rules are arcane.
- The instructions were too arcane for me.
adjective
literary
C2
property
3
relating to magic or the occult
connected to secret magic
Schéma d’usage :
arcane [arts/rites/rituals/powers]
Erreur fréquente :
This meaning is common in fantasy writing; in everyday English, 'arcane' more often means 'obscure' or 'known by few.'
Synonymes
occult (Directly connected to supernatural or hidden spiritual practices.)
|
mystical (Broader and often more spiritual than 'arcane.')
Antonymes
mundane (Ordinary and not magical or mysterious.)
Collocations
arcane arts
|arcane rites
|arcane rituals
|arcane powers
|arcane magic
|arcane spell
|arcane order
|arcane tradition
|arcane mysteries
|arcane cult
Thèmes
arts
|literature
|religion
|mystery
Exemples
- The novel follows a scholar who studies arcane rituals in a hidden library.
- In the game, she gains arcane powers after finding an ancient relic.
- The film hints at arcane forces behind the disappearances.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The story is about arcane magic.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
arcane
API
GB/ˌɑɹkˈeɪn/
US/ˌɑɹkˈeɪn/
Syllabes et accentuation
ar - cane (2 syllabes)
Stress on 2nd syllable (cane)
Formes du mot
Adjective
- Base: arcane
Famille de mots
Related words
Advanced or less common
Expressions
arcane details
1/ˌɑɹkˈeɪn dˈiteɪlz/
fixed phrase
formal
minor but complex details
difficult, technical details
Exemples
- We don’t need the arcane details—just the main point.
- The report dives into arcane details about the testing process.
- He bored everyone with arcane details of his model.
arcane knowledge
1/ˌɑɹkˈeɪn nˈɑlɪd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
formal
specialist knowledge known by few
knowledge that few people have
Exemples
- She has arcane knowledge of shipping regulations.
- His arcane knowledge of local history made the tour fascinating.
- They relied on an expert with arcane knowledge of legacy systems.
arcane rules
1/ˌɑɹkˈeɪn ɹˈulz/
fixed phrase
formal
complicated, hard-to-understand rules
rules that are very hard to understand
Exemples
- Newcomers struggled with the arcane rules of the committee.
- The sport has arcane rules that take time to learn.
- They simplified the arcane rules into a one-page guide.
the arcane arts
1/ðə ˌɑɹkˈeɪn ˈɑɹts/
fixed phrase
literary
magic or mysterious practices
magic and secret powers (in stories)
Exemples
- In the series, he studies the arcane arts under a reluctant mentor.
- The museum exhibit explores alchemy and other arcane arts.
- She was accused of practicing the arcane arts.