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recondite

adjective
re·​con·​dite | \ ˈre-kÉ™n-ËŒdÄ«t How to pronounce recondite (audio) , ri-ˈkän- How to pronounce recondite (audio) \

Definition of recondite

1 : difficult or impossible for one of ordinary understanding or knowledge to comprehend : deep a recondite subject
2 : of, relating to, or dealing with something little known or obscure recondite fact about the origin of the holiday— Floyd Dell
3 : hidden from sight : concealed
Other Words from recondite Synonyms & Antonyms Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about recondite

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Other Words from recondite

reconditely adverb
reconditeness noun

Synonyms & Antonyms for recondite

Synonyms

abstruse, arcane, deep, esoteric, hermetic (also hermetical), profound

Antonyms

shallow, superficial

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Did You Know?

While recondite may be used to describe something difficult to understand, there is nothing recondite about the word's history. It dates to the early 1600s, when it was coined from the synonymous Latin word reconditus. Recondite is one of those underused but useful words that's always a boon to one's vocabulary, but take off the re- and you get something very obscure: condite is an obsolete verb meaning both "to pickle or preserve" and "to embalm." If we add the prefix in- to condite we get incondite, which means "badly put together," as in "incondite prose." All three words have Latin condere at their root; that verb is translated variously as "to put or bring together," "to put up, store," and "to conceal."

Examples of recondite in a Sentence

geochemistry is a recondite subject

Recent Examples on the Web

 Any program that did would be too recondite to stay on the air, the work of David Lynch being a glorious exception. — Christian Lorentzen, Harper's magazine, "Like This or Die," 10 Apr. 2019 There are more recondite practices, such as classical and biblical names (Sophocles’ and Jesus’), but this set is the basics. — John E. Mcintyre, baltimoresun.com, "Yes, you too can make plurals and possessives," 6 June 2018 Like other technology conceived for recondite purpose but found to have broad application, the air around the blockchain is thick with analogy and metaphor. — Stephen Phillips, San Francisco Chronicle, "New tech books: ‘Conspiracy,’ ‘Broad Band,’ ‘The Truth Machine’," 1 June 2018 Dense, challenging, aphoristic and swarming with recondite allusions and puns, these novels display an authoritative grasp of a breathtaking range of subjects. — New York Times, "Notes From the Book Review Archives," 13 Apr. 2018 The answer, the recondite answer, is that the best decisions are always born out of full consideration of the ghastly alternatives: only fools look solely at the most desirable ones. — Anthony Mccarten, latimes.com, "A daunting task: Writing the words to put in Winston Churchill's mouth," 21 Dec. 2017 Defoar is a tall, slender man of 40, with a weathered face and a taste for explaining recondite things like ruminant nutrition— — John E. Mcintyre, baltimoresun.com, "In a word: recondite," 31 July 2017 And thus began an unexpected, yearlong tour through this odd, stylish, recondite world. — Ted Scheinman, The Atlantic, "Cosplaying Jane Austen," 22 July 2017 He was committed to the most recondite 20th-century scores, but also willing to lead old favorites, with fireworks, in Central Park. — Michael Cooper, New York Times, "Alan Gilbert Wanted to Save the New York Philharmonic. What Happened?," 31 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'recondite.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of recondite

1619, in the meaning defined at sense 2

History and Etymology for recondite

Latin reconditus, past participle of recondere to conceal, from re- + condere to store up, from com- + -dere to put — more at com-, do

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More Definitions for recondite

recondite

adjective
How to pronounce recondite (audio) How to pronounce recondite (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of recondite

formal : not understood or known by many people

See the full definition for recondite in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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More from Merriam-Webster on recondite

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for recondite

Spanish Central: Translation of recondite

Nglish: Translation of recondite for Spanish Speakers

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