Arcanely

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. In a way that is cryptic and accessible only to a limited audience
2. By means of conduct that is obscure and comprehensible solely to those with specialized insight
3. In a manner that is mysterious and understood only by a select few knowledgeable individuals

Etymology: "Arcanely" is simply "arcane" with the adverbial ending "-ly" added, so it means "in an arcane way," that is, in a hidden or mysterious manner. The adjective comes from Latin "arcanus," meaning secret or hidden, which was itself formed from "arca," a chest or box, the thing in which valuables were kept out of sight. The idea of something sealed away in a box carried over into the sense of knowledge kept from outsiders. The "-ly" ending is the same one found in countless English adverbs such as "quickly" or "softly." It descends from Old English "-līċe," which was tied to the word for "body" or "form," so that a quality was described as having the shape or appearance of something. Over the centuries "-līċe" wore down to "-ly" in Middle English, and the pattern became a routine way of turning adjectives into adverbs.

Synonyms: mysteriously, enigmatically, cryptically

Antonyms: clearly, obviously