arcanist
|ar-can-ist|
🇺🇸
/ˈɑrkənɪst/
🇬🇧
/ˈɑːkənɪst/
keeper of secret knowledge
Etymology
'arcanist' originates from English, specifically formed from the adjective 'arcane' plus the agent suffix '-ist', where 'arcane' ultimately comes from Latin 'arcanus' meaning 'secret'.
'arcanist' developed after the adjective 'arcane' entered English (via Old French and Latin 'arcanus' / 'arcanum'); the modern agentive form combining 'arcane' + '-ist' produced 'arcanist' in later English usage.
Initially related to the idea of 'secret' or 'hidden' (from Latin 'arcanus'), the term evolved to denote a person who deals in secrets or specialized/occult knowledge—i.e., 'one who practices or knows arcane things.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a practitioner or specialist in arcane arts; a magician or sorcerer who works with secret or occult knowledge.
The arcanist deciphered the runes and invoked an ancient spell.
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Noun 2
a person possessing esoteric, secret, or highly specialized knowledge (not necessarily magical), often consulted for obscure expertise.
As an arcanist of ancient languages, she was able to reconstruct the lost manuscript.
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Last updated: 2025/10/03 21:09