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GRE vocabulary

arcane

adjectiveHigh-frequency wordMore A words

understood by only a few; mysterious

Word origin: From Latin arcanus, secret, from arca chest or box.

In a sentence

Arcane in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing arcane in a sentence.

The manual was filled with arcane jargon only specialists could follow.

Mastering the software required learning an arcane set of commands documented nowhere in the manual.

Antonyms
commonobviouswell-known
Usage & nuance

Using “arcane” well

Arcane describes knowledge understood by only a few initiates, with a connotation of mystery or secrecy. It stresses limited access more than sheer difficulty.

Common questions

Questions about “arcane

Arcane (adjective) means understood by only a few; mysterious
Here is arcane used in an example sentence: "The manual was filled with arcane jargon only specialists could follow." Another example: "Mastering the software required learning an arcane set of commands documented nowhere in the manual."
Common synonyms for arcane include esoteric, obscure, recondite.
Antonyms of arcane include common, obvious, well-known.
Arcane pairs with esoteric, obscure, and recondite in GRE Verbal. Its antonyms common, obvious, and well-known mark the widely understood opposite a passage may set against it.
Yes. Arcane is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

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