Where does “arcana” come from?

Arcana comes from Latin arcanus, derived from Latin arca meaning "chest" or "box," from Proto-Italic arkeō, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₂erk- meaning "to enclose."

arcana (English): Specialized knowledge that is mysterious to the...

Definitions

  1. Specialized knowledge that is mysterious to the...

Ancestry of “arcana”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinarcānushidden, secret, private, mysterious
2Latinarcachest, box, coffer, safe; coffin; ark
3LatinarceoI shut up, enclose; box in; I keep off, ward off;...
4Proto-Italicarkeōto contain
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂erk-to protect, guard, hold, lock

Words derived from “arcana”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂erk- →