小词详解 | arcane

小词详解 | arcane
arcane 英 [ɑːˈkeɪn] 美 [ɑːrˈkeɪn]

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外刊例句

  • Mr Buffett contends these figures partly reflect arcane accounting standards which do not cope well with his varied investments.
    巴菲特认为,出现这样的数字一定程度上是复杂难懂的会计准则使然,这些准则不能很好地反映他多样化投资的表现。
    ——《经济学人》
  • This arcane selection process has been illuminated by a lawsuit accusing Harvard of violating federal civil rights law by using racial balancing to shape its admissions in a way that discriminates against Asian-Americans.
    这一神秘的遴选过程因一项诉讼而受到关注,该诉讼指控哈佛在招生过程中利用种族平衡,以一种歧视亚裔美国人的方式来调整招生工作,违反了联邦民权法。
    ——《纽约时报》

基本释义

[adjective] understood by few; mysterious or secret
[形容词] 少数人懂的;神秘或秘密的

深入解读

Arcane 源自拉丁语 arca (箱子、盒子、保管场所),现主要作形容词表示“神秘的、秘密的、晦涩难懂的”,比如:

  • 对他们来说一清二楚的东西对我却深奥难解。
    What is lucid to them is arcane to me.

在具体使用时, arcane 并非用于形容那些超自然或魔法巫术之类无人能懂的东西,而是强调造成常人无法理解的原因在于秘密只有其拥有者等少数人知道,比如:

  • 晦涩的行话
    arcane jargon
  • 对不谙金融界事物的人而言如同天书
    seem arcane to those not closely involved in the world of finance

名人用例

Art is a step from what is obvious and well-known toward what is arcane and concealed.
艺术是从显而易见和众所周知向神秘与隐蔽迈进的一步。

出自阿拉伯文学主要奠基人、黎巴嫩文坛骄子纪伯伦·哈利勒·纪伯伦(Gibran Khalil Gibran,1883年1月6日-1931年4月10日)。其主要作品有《泪与笑》(A Tear and a Smile)、《先知》(The Prophet)、《沙与沫》(Sand and Foam)等。

同近义词

  • mysterious: difficult or impossible to understand, explain, or identify
  • covert: not openly acknowledged or displayed
  • clandestine: kept secret or done secretively, especially because illicit