Where does “arcane” come from?

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

arcane (Latin): vocative masculine singular of arcānus

Definitions

  1. vocative masculine singular of arcānus

Ancestry of “arcane”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinarcanushidden, secret, private, mysterious; intimate,...
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
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