Where does “arcane” come from?

Arcane 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 or confine.

arcane (English): Understood by only a few; Obscure, mysterious;...

Definitions

  1. Understood by only a few; Obscure, mysterious;...

Ancestry of “arcane”, 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 “arcane”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂erk- →Every word from Proto-Italic arkeō →Every word from Latin arceo →
arcane — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer