recondite
/ˈrɛk.ən.daɪt/
adjective
Origin
Latin
recondere — to hide, conceal, or store away
Overview
Meaning Now
- Little known; abstruse or obscure.
- Dealing with profound, difficult, or abstruse subject matter.
Literal older meaning
hidden away; put out of sight
Language path
Latin → English
Earliest form
reconditus
Earliest period
17th century
Journey
The term emerged in English during a period when scholars frequently adopted Latinate vocabulary to describe complex theological, philosophical, or scientific concepts that were inaccessible to the general public.
Evolution
- Latin
recondere
“to conceal, bury, store”
From 're-' (back/away) + 'condere' (to put together/store).
- Latin
reconditus
“concealed, hidden”
Past participle used as an adjective.
- 17th-century English
recondite
“hidden from view; obscure”
Direct loan/adaptation from Latin.
Connections
Word parts
re-
prefix
back or away
cond-
root
to put or store
-ite
suffix
adjectival marker
Related across languages
French
recondit
hidden or secret
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Related to recondite
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.