Word of the Day

: September 11, 2008

arcanum

noun ar-KAY-num

What It Means

1 : mysterious or specialized knowledge, language, or information accessible or possessed only by the initiate -- usually used in plural

2 : elixir

arcanum in Context

The author, a physicist, adeptly demystifies arcana of her field with lucid, accessible prose.

Did You Know?

The word "arcanum" (pluralized as "arcana") came from Latin "arcanus," meaning "secret," and entered English as the Dark Ages gave way to the Renaissance. It was often used in reference to the mysteries of the physical and spiritual worlds, subjects of heavy scrutiny and rethinking at the time. Alchemists were commonly said to be pursuing the arcana of nature, and they sought elixirs for changing base metals into gold, prolonging life, and curing disease. The frequent association of the word with the alchemists' elixirs influenced the use of "arcanum" for "elixir."