arcanum

Pronounced: ar-KAY-num, noun

Notes: You may know this word; the plural may be more well-known

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Yesterday’s word

The word azymous means “unleavened; unfermented”

First usage

This word goes back to the mid-1700s

Background / Comments

As I noted yesterday, this word is one that Christians and Jews may know: the Jewish feat of Passover is eaten with unleavened bread, and the Christian ceremony called “The Lord’s Supper” (also “Communion” and “Eucharist”) likewise uses unleavened bread. While many churches use wine at this ceremony, others use completely azymous elements, including the juice. I find it interesting that in every gospel passage that talks about Jesus instituting this ceremony, the drink is always called “the fruit of the vine”. This word comes to English from the Latin word azymous (unleavened, uncorrupted). The Latin word comes from Greek azumos (unleavened), which is made up of a- (not) and zumos (leaven).