esoteric
UK /ˌiː.səʊˈtɛɹ.ɪk/ · US /ˌɛs.əˈtɛɹ.ɪk/ adjective, noun
Forms esoterics esoterick
- adjective Intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest, or an enlightened inner circle. “The writing in this manual is very esoteric; I’d need a degree in engineering just to understand it!”
- adjective Having to do with concepts that are highly theoretical and without obvious practical application; often with mystical or religious connotations.
- adjective Confidential; private. “an esoteric purpose”
- noun An esoteric doctrine or treatise; esoteric philosophy.
- noun One who believes, or is an initiate, in esoteric doctrines or rites.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek ἐσωτερικός (esōterikós, “belonging to an inner circle”), from ἐσωτέρω (esōtérō, “further inside”), comparative of ἔσω (ésō, “within”), from ἐς (es), εἰς (eis, “into”) (the term esoteric referred originally to the secret teachings of Greek philosophers, versus public or exoteric ones).
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Designed for, and understood by, the specially initiated alone; not communicated, or not intelligible, to the general body of followers; private; interior; acroamatic; --said of the private and more recondite instructions and doctrines of philosophers. Opposed to exoteric.
Etymology [Gr. In.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “esoteric”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details