Arcanist

/ɑːrˈkeɪnɪst/ noun

Definition

A person who studies, practices, or is knowledgeable about arcane or esoteric knowledge; someone initiated into secrets or mysteries.

Etymology

From arcanum or arcane + -ist suffix (indicating a person engaged in a specific practice or having specific knowledge). The term suggests expertise in hidden or secret knowledge.

Kelly Says

Arcanist became a popular fantasy term (think video games and D&D) to describe wizards and occultists, but historically it referred to real people who claimed knowledge of secret sciences, alchemical mysteries, and hidden wisdom traditions.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.