Word Study
arcanum
CIDE DICTIONARY
arcanum, n. [L., fr. arcanus closed, secret, fr. arca chest, box, fr. arcere to inclose. See Ark.].
- A secret; a mystery; -- generally used in the plural. [1913 Webster]"Inquiries into the arcana of the Godhead." [1913 Webster]
- A secret remedy; an elixir. Dunglison. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
arcanum, n. (pl. arcana) (usu. in pl.) a mystery; a profound secret.
Etymology
L neut. of arcanus: see ARCANE
ROGET THESAURUS
arcanum
Secret
N secret, dead secret, profound secret, arcanum, mystery, latency, Asian mystery, sealed book, secrets of the prison house, le desous des cartes, enigma, riddle, puzzle, nut to crack, conundrum, charade, rebus, logogriph, monogram, anagram, Sphinx, crux criticorum, maze, labyrinth, Hyrcynian wood, intricacy, meander, problem, paradox, unintelligibility, terra incognita, secret, involved, labyrinthine, labyrinthian, mazy, confidential, top secret.For further exploring for "arcanum" in Webster Dictionary Online