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Elusive vs Arcane - What's the difference?

elusive | arcane |

As adjectives the difference between elusive and arcane

is that elusive is while arcane is understood by only a few; obscure; requiring secret or mysterious knowledge.

elusive

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Evading capture, comprehension or remembrance.
    • The elusive criminal was arrested
  • * {{quote-book
    • , year=1910 , author=Jack London , title=Lost Face , chapter=6 citation , passage=Charley chased the elusive idea through all the nooks and crannies of his drowning consciousness.}}
  • Rarely seen.
  • *
  • Difficult to describe.
    • A precise definition of diarrhea is elusive (Robbin's pathology, 8th ed)

    Related terms

    * (l)

    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

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