Arcanum
Hidden mystical knowledge
Arcanum refers to a secret or mystery, especially one known only to a select few.
The word carries a sense of hidden knowledge—esoteric truths guarded from the uninitiated.
In tarot, the Major Arcana and Minor Arcana are the two divisions of the deck, each card supposedly encoding mystical meaning.
The plural is arcana: the arcana of high finance, the arcana of parliamentary procedure.
The word retains a learned, slightly mystical flavor.
Complete change of form
- philosopher's stoneLegendary substance enabling transmutation
- elixirMythical healing draught
- quintessencePurest embodiment of something
- hermeticismAirtight, impervious condition
magnum opus · alembic · crucible · calcination · nigredo · albedo · distillation · sublimation
Concealed information
- hidden knowledgeInformation deliberately kept concealed
- enigmaSomething hard to fathom
- riddlePuzzling question to solve
- cipherHidden writing system
concealed · veiled · cryptic · obscure · forbidden knowledge · sealed · unrevealed · unfathomable
Textbook of sorcery
- ritualCeremonial set of actions
- incantationSpoken magical formula
- sigilMagical or heraldic symbol
- talismanMagical protective charm
amulet · divination · necromancy · theurgy · ceremonial magic · invocation · evocation · kabbalah
Wound document of parchment
- manuscriptOriginal text before publication
- codexAncient bound manuscript
- palimpsestReused writing surface, traces remain
- papyrusAncient plant-derived writing material
hieroglyphics · temple · sanctuary · oracle · relic · artifact · inscription · tome
transmutation
Complete change of form
- philosopher's stoneLegendary substance enabling transmutation
- elixirMythical healing draught
- quintessencePurest embodiment of something
hermeticism · magnum opus · alembic · crucible · calcination · nigredo · albedo · distillation · sublimation · coagulation
secret
Concealed information
- hidden knowledgeInformation deliberately kept concealed
- enigmaSomething hard to fathom
- riddlePuzzling question to solve
cipher · concealed · veiled · cryptic · obscure · forbidden knowledge · sealed · unrevealed · unfathomable · inscrutable
grimoire
Textbook of sorcery
- ritualCeremonial set of actions
- incantationSpoken magical formula
- sigilMagical or heraldic symbol
talisman · amulet · divination · necromancy · theurgy · ceremonial magic · invocation · evocation · kabbalah · tarot
scroll
Wound document of parchment
- manuscriptOriginal text before publication
- codexAncient bound manuscript
- palimpsestReused writing surface, traces remain
papyrus · hieroglyphics · temple · sanctuary · oracle · relic · artifact · inscription · tome · antiquarian
Arcanumcommon knowledge
Widely shared information
public knowledge · open secret · public information · general knowledge · truism
Arcanumbanality
Tiresome lack of originality
mundanity · commonplace · triviality · conventional wisdom · plain truth
Arcanumbasics
Foundational knowledge of something
fundamentals · ABC · rudiments · primer · common sense
- arcane knowledgeObscure, specialized understanding
- arcane ritualsSecret ceremonial practices
- arcane magicMysterious supernatural knowledge and power
- arcane symbolsMysterious signs with hidden meaning
- major arcanaTarot's twenty-two trump cards
- arcane energySupernatural force from secret knowledge