arcane magic

Esoteric supernatural arts

Arcane magic is supernatural power drawn from esoteric knowledge, ancient texts, or mysterious forces—distinguished from divine magic granted by gods or natural magic inherent in the world.

The term appears primarily in fantasy games and fiction: The wizard studied arcane magic for decades.

Arcane emphasizes the secret, hidden nature of such power, accessible only to those who uncover its mysteries.

Related

ancient · runes · grimoire · incantation · spell casting · true name · eldritch · sigils · ritual · spellbook · alchemy · conjuration · enchantment · cryptic · arcanum · wizard · warlock · hidden

Categories
Opposites
accessibility of knowledge

arcane magicfolk magic

Traditional supernatural practices

natural magic · cantrips · home remedies

source of power

arcane magicsorcery

Practice of dark magic

wild magic · blood magic · elemental magic

supernatural vs. mundane

arcane magicscience

Systematic study through observation

technology · natural philosophy · empiricism · engineering · physics

Family

arcane, arcanely, magic, magical, magically, magician, magicians, mage, magi

Familiarity
Top 500,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Everyday, not technical · Rated G