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Recondite: meaning, definitions and examples

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recondite

 

[ ˈrɛkənˌdaɪt ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

academic usage

The term 'recondite' refers to knowledge that is little known or obscure. It typically describes subjects that require specialized understanding or are difficult for the average person to comprehend. Often, it applies to scholarly domains where the information is complex and not widely disseminated. In literature, it might indicate ideas or themes that are esoteric and could be challenging for general audiences.

Synonyms

abstruse, arcane, esoteric, inscrutable, obscure

Examples of usage

  • The professor's lecture covered recondite theories in quantum physics.
  • Her novel is full of recondite references to ancient philosophy.
  • He enjoys reading recondite texts that few people understand.

Translations

Translations of the word "recondite" in other languages:

🇵🇹 recondito

🇮🇳 गूढ़

🇩🇪 abgelegen

🇮🇩 tersembunyi

🇺🇦 глибокий

🇵🇱 ukryty

🇯🇵 難解な

🇫🇷 recondite

🇪🇸 recondito

🇹🇷 gizli

🇰🇷 난해한

🇸🇦 غامض

🇨🇿 skrytý

🇸🇰 skrytý

🇨🇳 深奥的

🇸🇮 skrit

🇮🇸 dulin

🇰🇿 жасырын

🇬🇪 დამალული

🇦🇿 gizli

🇲🇽 recondito

Etymology

The word 'recondite' originates from the Latin term 'reconditus', which means 'hidden' or 'concealed'. This Latin term is derived from 'recondere', meaning 'to hide away' or 'to put back'. 'Recondite' entered the English language in the early 17th century, retaining the connotation of being somewhat hidden from general knowledge. Its use grew particularly in scholarly and academic contexts, where it describes information that is beyond the grasp of the average person. Over time, the term has come to denote not just hidden knowledge, but also that which is sophisticated and requires considerable effort to understand.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #27,408, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.