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Arcane vs Urbane - What's the difference?

arcane | urbane |

As adjectives the difference between arcane and urbane

is that arcane is understood by only a few; obscure; requiring secret or mysterious knowledge while urbane is (of a man) courteous, polite, refined, and suave.

arcane

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Understood by only a few; obscure; requiring secret or mysterious knowledge.
  • * 1997 : Chris Horrocks, Introducing Foucault'', page 67, ''The Renaissance Episteme (Totem Books, Icon Books; ISBN 1840460865)
    • A “signature” was placed on all things by God to indicate their affinities — but it was hidden, hence the search for arcane' knowledge. Knowing was '''guessing''' and ' interpreting , not observing or demonstrating.

    Synonyms

    * esoteric * recondite * clandestine

    Antonyms

    * mundane

    Related terms

    * arcana

    References

    * * * ----

    urbane

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (of a man) Courteous, polite, refined, and suave.
  • * 1949 : George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four , p12
    • He felt deeply drawn to him, and not solely because he was intrigued by the contrast between O’Brien’s urbane manner and his prize-fighter’s physique.

    Antonyms

    * rustic

    Related terms

    * urban

    References

    * The Concise Oxford English Dictionary [Eleventh Edition] ----