Nearby Words

arcanum

[ahr-key-nuhm] Origin

ar·ca·num

[ahr-key-nuhm]
noun, plural -na [-nuh] .
1.
Often, arcana. a secret; mystery.
2.
a supposed great secret of nature that the alchemists sought to discover.
3.
a secret and powerful remedy.

Origin:
1590–1600; < Latin, neuter (used as noun) of arcānus arcane
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Arcanum is always a great word to know.
So is bezoar. Does it mean:
a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison.
a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal.
Collins
World English Dictionary
arcanum (ɑːˈkeɪnəm)
 
n , pl -na
1.  (sometimes plural) a profound secret or mystery known only to initiates
2.  a secret of nature sought by alchemists
 
[C16: from Latin; see arcane]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

arcanum
proper singular form of arcana (q.v.).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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