recondite
UK[ˈrek.ən.daɪt]US[ˈrek.ən.daɪt]
adj
(of a subject or knowledge) little known; abstruse.
adj
(of an author or style) dealing in very abstruse knowledge.
Morpheme Breakdown
re
cond
ite
re
again
cond
to put together, to store, to hide
ite
Etymology
the word 'recondite' originates from the latin past participle 'reconditus', meaning 'hidden away, concealed', itself derived from the verb 'recondere' ('to put away, to store'). this verb is a compound of the prefix 're-' ('back') and 'condere' ('to put together, to store'). the semantic journey moved from the literal sense of physically storing something away to the figurative sense of knowledge that is stored away, obscure, and not readily accessible. thus, the modern meaning of 'abstruse' or 'little known' logically extends from the original notion of being hidden from common view.
Analysis
Structure: re + cond + ite
re- (latin prefix, meaning 'again' or 'back'), cond (from latin 'condere', meaning 'to put together, to store, to hide'), -ite (latin adjectival suffix).
Examples
the professor's thesis was filled with recondite references to medieval philosophy.
i find his poetry too recondite for my taste.
the manuscript contained recondite knowledge of alchemical processes.