Sunday, April 1, 2012

A to Z Challenge: A - Arcane

Happy Sunday morning challengers! I know many people don't read blogs on Sunday, and I certainly don't normally, but today is the official beginning of the April A to Z blogging challenge.

I'm going to keep my posts very short, because the point is really to visit as many blogs as possible. My theme, in case you can't already tell, is awesome words that begin with the letter of the day.

I'll share the word, its definition, some synonyms, and then as much etymology as I can find. I love etymologies, don't you?

So, anyway, here's today's word:

Arcane

arcane [ɑːˈkeɪn] adj. - requiring secret or mysterious knowledge to be understood.

Synonyms: mysterious, secret, hidden, esoteric, occult, recondite, cabbalistic.

Etymology: 1540s, from L. arcanus "secret, hidden, private, concealed," from arcere "close up, enclose, contain," from arca "chest, box, place for safe-keeping," from PIE *ark- "to hold, contain, guard" (cf. Gk. arkos "defense," arkein "to ward off;" Arm. argel "obstacle;" Lith. raktas "key," rakinti "to shut, lock").

104 comments:

Laurita said...

That's a great word. I think I'm going to try and work that into a story.

mindthagap said...

We're doing something very similar! Good luck. :)

Mary@GigglesandGuns said...

A thinking man's word for sure.

Unknown said...

I love learning new words and their etymology. Cool!

My Arabic Journey said...

That's cool. Can't wait for tomorrow's word.

Pearson Report said...

I just knew this was going to be yet another great opportunity to learn something by stopping by and checking you out, Matthew...love what you're doing with the A-Z.

Great "A"!

Jenny @ Pearson Report
Co-Host of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.

Kittie Howard said...

Cool word. Looking forward to coming words.

Jeremy [Retro] said...

I am going to try to use that word at least three times today...

Great start... to the challenge "A" is for Awesome!
Jeremy [Retro-Zombie]
A to Z Co-Host
IZOMBIE: Visit the Madness

Bish Denham said...

Wonderful! I love learning about the history of words. Looking forward to reading more.

Unknown said...

A good word - one that's not used often enough these days. Awesome start to the challenge :)

Jamie Gibbs
Fellow A-Z buddy
Mithril Wisdom

Unknown said...

That's a nice word, I look forward to reading your posts! Hopefully it will help expand my vocabulary.

farawayeyes said...

Ahhh, right to the heart of a 'word junkie'.

A Daft Scots Lass said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jemi Fraser said...

Nice theme! Arcane is a great word - so many great images come to mind with just the word!

Laura S. said...

I like your A to Z Challenge theme, Matthew! I'm such a word nerd so this is going to be fun. Have a great day!!

A Daft Scots Lass said...

at a coincidence! Arcane is my middle name!

Sara {Rhapsody and Chaos} said...

I love the word arcane!! It makes me wish I had secret knowledge in order to understand something cool and mysterious.

Anonymous said...

I've always loved the word, Arcane! Thanks for the refreshing take on A-to-Z!

Richard said...

Arcane knowledge.. Thanks for reminding me, I have yet alot of reading to do which I almost forgot

Tasha Seegmiller said...

I really love etymology. Love that there is a place to say these kinds of things without faces of raised eyebrows judging. :)

Old Kitty said...

Ooooh arcane!!! Lovely word, no? Already conjures up all things mystic and mystical! Yay! Take care
x

Natalie Aguirre said...

Love that word. I didn't really know what it meant before. Thanks.

Unknown said...

i love words! can't wait to read your next 25!

Fran@Broken Cookies Don't Count said...

Great word, "arcane." Sounds like it should be in a medievel novel!

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

A great word to start a great challenge. Good luck with the next 25.

Yvonne.

Unknown said...

Great word. Happy a to z challenge

Karen Jones Gowen said...

You know, I don't believe I have ever used the word arcane in my speaking or writing vocabulary. It is definitely time to change that! Great word!

Unknown said...

Very interesting first post. Have a great month of A-Z!

jp@A Green Ridge said...

Great idea, Matt! Learning is always fun!...:)JP

Susan Oloier said...

Oooh, an opportunity to expand my vocabulary, too. I am all for that. Great theme.

Steve MC said...

I used to play a lot of arcane games.

And thanks for pointing me towards the Online Etymology Dictionary - I love the sources of words and had to go look up what those abbreviations meant.

Empty Nester said...

It'll be like a fun way to study for the SAT! LOL I'm going to use every word I don't already know on the days you post them. Should be interesting to see how many folks around here know them!

Unknown said...

Good idea Matthew - I'll use your words as a "word for the day" exercise and work them into my WIP.

Gossip_Grl said...

Stopping by from A-Z Challenge nice topic.

Dawn Ius said...

LOVE your theme. In April, I'll use your blog instead of my "word of the day" iPhone app :-)

nutschell said...

Arcane always works in fantasy stories, for sure. :) Looking forward to the rest of your A-z posts.
Nutschell
www.thewritingnut.com

Mary E Campbell said...

Interesting word. Interesting theme.

betty said...

visiting from A-Z; I was not familiar with the word but I do like its meaning. I bet know that I have read it today, I'll hear it at least three more times in the days ahead.

betty

M. Hufstader said...

This is going to be good for me. Like an adult's version of sesame street. Great idea! I hope to reacquaint myself with some good SAT words.

Good start and keep it up!

Cheers, M. from Feed Me A Stray Cat!

Donna K. Weaver said...

Great choice. I love these, too, that's why five days a week I get an email from wordsmith.org. Fascinating!

Unknown said...

Love this word. :) Great choice, Matt!

A.D. Duling said...

Clever idea, I have just learned a new word! Thank you!

loverofwords said...

I always thought arcane meant "old fashioned," should I take the SATs over again? JK, I am learning so much and it's only the 1st of April!

Unknown said...

Love that you are doing some etymology here. As an English teacher that is close to my heart. I love getting my high schoolers excited about new words. We actually have a lot of fun with vocabulary. In fact I have vocab drawing to go check off right now.

Sonnia J. Kemmer said...

I love mysteries... but I prefer the one with a path to understanding. Maybe that's why I love criminal mystery programs. HeHe Nice post.

A Ladybug's Life

Sonnia

Donna Shields said...

Me too. Learned a new word. Thanks

Dannelore said...

You know, I never realized (until now) that I had no idea what this word meant. I like it though, I'd love to work it into a novel at some point.

Here's a great website for finding etymologies: http://etymonline.com/ Maybe it will help you out this month?

I also just wanted to send a comment your way because I've been assigned to you. Can't wait to see what other word you have in your line up!

RaShelle Workman said...

Nice word, Mr. MacNish! My "A" post will be up at 12:05 PST or noon:05. ;)

ShaunaKelleyWrites said...

I love this word! I feel like it is underused (and often incorrectly). I hope you've brought it back into vogue here!

Emily White said...

Ooh, great theme!

Funny in My Mind said...

I love new words!
I love that you have a German shepherd (we have 2)
Lots to read, have fun!

mshatch said...

excellent word and awesome theme.

Al Penwasser said...

Etymology is MUCH better than entomology. You don't need bug spray.
However, "entenmannology" is great. I love the study of coffee cakes and sticky buns.
Unless they're MY buns.

DL Hammons said...

If you use that in our Words With Friends match....I'll bean you!

:)

Leigh Covington said...

I'm all about the short posts. So much more fun and easy to read. :) I love the word "arcane." Great choice for today!

Anonymous said...

I love this word!

Cara

Laura said...

I loved the words 'arcane wisdom' when I was a kid. Always thought they'd lead to something exciting
Lx

Jen said...

OOhh I love this word! Thanks for sharing it!

Kristen Pelfrey said...

Arcane! Arcane!
This word makes me happy.
This morning I was talking with my dad about the Dark Ages, Charlemagne, and and gnostic graffito.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

You'll be better than a Thesaurus this month!

Joyce Sully said...

It's great to encounter another word freak who reads etymological dictionaries for fun. That word and the image with it gets my creative brain plotting and gleeful.

Shell Flower said...

Brilliant choice for your A-Z theme. Perfect for all the writers out there. Arcane is certainly a wonderful word to start the challenge. I see spellbooks and cobweb-filled castles.

S. L. Hennessy said...

I've always loved the sound of the word arcane. It's so beautiful and descriptive at the same time.

Great post theme! Happy A-Z blogging!

Jean Katherine Baldridge said...

Awesome word! I love the history of it which you posted, as well. I occasionally use it in my writing and when I do, I feel a frisson of pride! :)

jean

Suze said...

At the heart of every good story is the quest to uncover -- and maybe even exploit -- the arcane.

I think. Sounds plausible, anyway.

Sarah Tokeley said...

I love this word, it's part of my world. I had a friend who used to mix it up with the word archaic - but that's another story :-)

ediFanoB said...

Great idea!

In a time where you get the impression that the only things you are apps
posts like this one give some hope.

Arcane reminds me of an extraordinary game from 2001.
Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura

Simon Kewin said...

It's a great word - looking forward to the rest of these!

The Writing Goddess said...

Love the way "arcane" hints of mysterious secrets, all by itself. Love love it.

Andrew Leon said...

Good word. It should be applied more frequently to science.

Tina said...

I love learning new words, and my Dad and I share a love for etymology. I'm doing a word a day, too, only in Swedish. It's been great co-hosting with you. See you tomorrow!
Tina @ Life is Good
Co-Host of the April A to Z Challenge
Twitter: @AprilA2Z #atozchallenge

Tracy Jo said...

I dig it. :-) Happy A-Zing!

Unknown said...

Great first post. I look forward seeing what else you do this month.

Amber T. Smith said...

Arcane is such a cool word. *nods* I've never managed to use it in my writing, but one day!!

Thanks for stopping by on my blog and letting me know you were co-hosting. Good luck for the challenge - both the taking part and the hosting!

Martha said...

Awesome A!

Kimberly said...

Great word. Love it your theme and looking forward to coming back to learn more.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Yep, Arcane is a brilliant word. Love your theme for the challenge!

Shaun said...

Nice one Matthew, i wonder how many time i could slip this word into a conversation during tomorrows working day.
Shaun

Dani said...

Oh I am sooooo going to use this word on my husband. He thinks he's soooo smart. Huh, thanks for the great word for my vacab today... and maybe tomoroow too!

HeatherL said...

As a RPG-er I love the arcane! It makes everything more magical and old world!

Jeremy Bates said...

Sweet theme. Hopefully, I can stop by here and perhaps learn a new word during April.

Here's a good trick that's word related.

Tell someone (as you hand them a dictionary)that between your brother and you, you know every single word in the English language. Challenge them to test you.

Usually you will know the first word or two, but when you run up against a word, you don't know, pause as if to reflect, then abruptly blurt, "ah, no wonder, my brother knows that one."

Great joke.

Golden Eagle said...

I love the word arcane. It's fun to say.


The Golden Eagle
The Eagle's Aerial Perspective

Beth Stilborn said...

Love etymology. This is going to be cool.

Kela McClelland said...

Good first post and great theme. Can't wait to read more :)

Rusty Carl said...

Thanks for the definition. If you're doing that every day I think it will be cool. I want so desperately to get an online membership to the OED so I can learn everything there is to know about a given word. But when I told the missus that it's $30 a month, well, she didn't think it was such a good idea.

So, you'll have to be the next best thing.

Jessica Ferguson said...

Thanks for helping me increase my vocabulary. I'll be back tomorrow for my next lesson. But please, no tests!

Beverly Diehl said...

Love the word and the illustration - it looks both magickal and steampunky at the same time. Thanks for being a co-host of this bebe.

Kathleen said...

Love it! I shall use Arcane at work tomorrow and dazzle my co-workers.

I look forward to a month of words.

Kathleen
Living 2012
http://365d-8760h-518400m.blogspot.com/
A to Z challeng

Anonymous said...

I started the A to Z challenge, too. I like your idea of a word for each day. I like your post much more than mine. Hopefully, mine will get better as the challenge goes on.

Christine Rains said...

Great start to the Challenge! I love reading about etymologies too. Plus, it's very nice that your posts will be short. Thanks!

vic caswell said...

oooh! i like it!

Zan Marie said...

OOOOH! Great theme, Matthew! I have a video of the History of English in 10 Minutes up at the moment. Though I'm not trying the A to Z, I'm going to *love* reading everybody's posts.

Nancy Thompson said...

Now if I could get you to use it in a sentence, I'd be set! Great theme. I think I'll be learning a lot from you this month.

Lex said...

I've always loved the way 'arcane' rolls off the tongue. Great first post!

Really excited to be a part of this for the first time!

Rachel Frost said...

I love this theme. :) Looks like I'll be stopping by lots more!

Unknown said...

Love your theme, Matthew. Will stop by and learn often. :)

Elizabeth Seckman said...

short and sweet is perfect

mauz said...

Really looking forward to the rest of these etymological posts!

Mum of One said...

What a great idea!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Matthew .. yes I too love etymologies and have some books around to help me. Will enjoy your theme and word of the day ..

A comment bringing you to 100!!

Cheers Hilary

quilly said...

How blogs become popular seems arcane to me. There are certain rituals involved. Timing is crucial. And words do have to be put together in just the right way. Gathering and keeping a following is definitely magical.

Cherie Reich said...

Arcane is a great word. :)

Jenni Steel said...

Great post, looking forward to reading more new words.

Thank you!

Jenni

Eliza Wynn said...

Great post and theme! "Arcane" is one of my favorite words.

Ellie
Ellie's Blank Book
Ellie's Couch
Help Michigan Pets