Where does “arcanum” come from?

arcanum (English) comes from Latin arcanum, from Latin arcānus, from Latin arca, from Latin arceo, from Proto-Italic arkeō, from Proto-Indo-European h₂erk- — to protect, guard, hold, lock.

arcanum (English): A mystery or deep secret; An elixir or secret...

Definitions

  1. A mystery or deep secret; An elixir or secret...

Ancestry of “arcanum”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinarcanumsecret or mystery
2Latinarcānushidden, secret, private, mysterious
3Latinarcachest, box, coffer, safe; coffin; ark
4LatinarceoI shut up, enclose; box in; I keep off, ward off;...
5Proto-Italicarkeōto contain
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂erk-to protect, guard, hold, lock
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂erk- →Every word from Proto-Italic arkeō →Every word from Latin arceo →