▪ I. recondite, a.
(ˈrɛkəndaɪt)
Also 7 -dit.
[ad. L. recondit-us, pa. pple. of recondĕre to put away, hide, f. re- re- + condĕre: see condite a.2 Cf. It., Sp., Pg. recondito, obs. F. recondit (Cotgr.).
The pronunciations (rɪˈkɒndaɪt, riːˈkɒndɪt) are also recognized by some recent Dicts. By Bailey (1731) and Sheridan (1789) the stressing is given as reconˈdite, by Johnson as reˈcondite. See also Walker's note, s.v.]
1. Of things: Removed or hidden from view; kept out of sight. Now rare.
| 1649 Bulwer Pathomyot. ii. ii. 108 The Eye is somewhat recondit betweene its Orbite. 1684 tr. Bonet's Merc. Compit. xix. 848 The more recondite Seeds of Diseases, are seldom extirpated without Vomitories. 1796 Coleridge Lett. I. 209 My recondite eye sits distent quaintly behind the flesh-hill, and looks as little as a tomtit's. 1818 T. L. Peacock Maid Marian xiv, The husband produced some recondite flasks of wine. 1821 Lamb Elia Ser. i. Old Benchers Inner Temple, The young urchins,..not being able to guess at its recondite machinery, were almost tempted to hail the wondrous work as magic. |
b. spec. in Bot. and Entom.
| 1826 Kirby & Sp. Entomol. IV. 306 Recondite,..when the head is wholly covered and sheltered by the shield of the thorax. 1866 Treas. Bot. 962/1. |
c. Retired, avoiding notice.
| 1881 Cassell's Nat. Hist. V. 316 The Pselaphidæ..bear a certain analogy to the Paussidæ, being, like them of recondite habits. |
2. Removed from ordinary apprehension, understanding, or knowledge; deep, profound, abstruse.
| a 1652 J. Smith Sel. Disc. vi. 200 That so his sublime and recondite doctrine might be the better hid up therein. 1672 Mede's Wks. Pref., In the more abstruse and recondite parts of Knowledge. 1706 Phillips (ed. Kersey), Recondite, secret, hidden; as Recondite Mysteries. 1772 Mackenzie Man World ii. ii, The recondite principles of philosophy. 1796 Bp. Watson Apol. Bible (ed. 2) 376 The origin of arts, or the recondite depths of science. 1850 M{supc}Cosh Div. Govt. ii. ii. (1874) 191 In some cases the cause is obvious, and in others more recondite. 1875 Helps Soc. Press. xxv. 392 This is all too recondite for me and the examples given are almost impossible ones for me to imagine. |
b. Of learning, investigation, discussion, etc.: Consisting in, relating to, uncommon or profound knowledge.
| 1654 H. L'Estrange Chas. I (1655) 4 A king, (for recondite learning, and abstruse knowledge) so near a match to Solomon. 1665 Glanvill Def. Van. Dogm. 40 A close and recondite Search into the Seminalities of Plants. 1711 Felton Dissert. Classics (1718) 65 Men of more recondite Studies and what they call deep learning. 1822 Hazlitt Table-t. Ser. ii. i. (1869) 7 A dispute, the most learned and recondite that ever took place. 1862 H. Spencer First Princ. i. i. §5 The office of the most recondite and abstract inquiries of Science. |
c. Of writers, sources, etc.: Obscure, little known.
| 1817 Coleridge Biog. Lit. I. iii. 65, I look in vain for any writer who has conveyed so much information [as Southey], from so many and such recondite sources. 1841 D'Israeli Amen. Lit. (1867) 662 His knowledge..in the recondite literature of the middle ages. 1865 Sat. Rev. 15 July 76/1 The traditional edition of a recondite classical author. |
3. Of persons: Writing in an obscure fashion.
| 1788 V. Knox Winter Even. II. v. i. 109 They afford a lesson to the modern metaphysical and recondite writers not to overvalue their works. 1817 Coleridge Biog. Lit. xxii. II. 172 In the play of fancy, Wordsworth, to my feelings, is not always graceful and sometimes recondite. |
Hence ˈreconditely adv.
| 1854 Gilfillan Life Blair in B.'s Wks. 127 We could have conceived of him treating the subject more reconditely. |
▪ II. † recondite, v. Obs. rare—1.
[f. as prec. Cf. recond v.]
trans. To hide, cover up.
| 1578 Banister Hist. Man i. 32 Tendons recondited, and hidde in their Muscle, as if they were in a purse imposed. |