Latin edit

Etymology edit

From arca +‎ -nus. Cognates include arceō (I defend), arx (fortress), arcera (ambulance), Old Armenian արգել (argel, obstacle) and Ancient Greek ἀρκέω (arkéō).

Pronunciation edit

Adjective edit

arcānus (feminine arcāna, neuter arcānum); first/second-declension adjective

  1. hidden, secret, private, mysterious
    Synonyms: obscūrus, secretus, occultus, clandestinus, perobscūrus
    Antonyms: conspicuus, manifestus
  2. intimate, personal, confidential
  3. trustworthy (to keep a secret)

Declension edit

First/second-declension adjective.

Number Singular Plural
Case / Gender Masculine Feminine Neuter Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative arcānus arcāna arcānum arcānī arcānae arcāna
Genitive arcānī arcānae arcānī arcānōrum arcānārum arcānōrum
Dative arcānō arcānō arcānīs
Accusative arcānum arcānam arcānum arcānōs arcānās arcāna
Ablative arcānō arcānā arcānō arcānīs
Vocative arcāne arcāna arcānum arcānī arcānae arcāna

Related terms edit

Descendants edit

  • Catalan: arcà
  • English: arcane
  • Galician: arcano
  • German: arkan
  • Italian: arcano
  • Portuguese: arcano
  • Romanian: arcan
  • Sicilian: arcanu
  • Spanish: arcano

References edit

  • arcanus”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  • arcanus”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
  • arcanus in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette
  • Carl Meißner; Henry William Auden (1894) Latin Phrase-Book[1], London: Macmillan and Co.
    • to be present at secret consultations: consiliis arcanis interesse (Liv. 35. 18)