esoteric Definition
eso·teric (es′ə ter′ik)
adjective
- intended for or understood by only a chosen few, as an inner group of disciples or initiates: said of ideas, literature, etc.
- beyond the understanding or knowledge of most people; abstruse
- confidential; private; withheld an esoteric plan
Etymology: Gr esōterikos < esōteros, inner, compar. of esō, within < es, eis, into
esoteric Related Forms
es′o·ter′i·cally adverb
esoteric Synonyms
esoteric Usage Examples
Preposition: in
film: HEADPRESS JOURNAL is a distinctive, acclaimed book series devoted to all that is strange and esoteric in film, literature and art.
Adjective complement with noun phrase
- sound: The purpose of these transformations will sound a bit esoteric at the moment.
- make: But élitist is avoiding the sense of making something too esoteric.
Modifies a noun
- Buddhism: Chapter four, the final section in the discussion of esoteric Buddhism, examines various extant Japanese Two World Mandalas.
- lore: Powells perceptive commentary is of enduring interest to all lovers of esoteric lore.
- astrology: Detailed and with many diagrams, it will teach you as much about botany as aspects of biodynamics and esoteric astrology.
- doctrine: This is the last word of the esoteric doctrine.
- symbolism: Although some parallels will be found with esoteric symbolism I think you would do well to remember that Tolkien was a devout Christian.
- philosophy: On that note, I suppose you could say I do not agree with all of her esoteric philosophy.
Modifying Another Word
- somewhat: His life work has been conducting research in a somewhat esoteric branch of business.
- seemingly: No matter what seemingly esoteric interest you have, be assured there is probably a publication out there clambering for your expertise.
- rather: These include rather esoteric installation or set-up problems for specific systems.
- too: Our only niggles concern the Canon menu system, which is just too esoteric for our liking.
- sometimes: What follows are the more advanced, less used, or sometimes esoteric capabilities of perl regexps.
- highly: It would appear that the occupants are engaged in some highly esoteric branch of science.
Used with adjective complement
Browse dictionary entries near esoteric
- ‹ esophagus
- ‹ ESOP
- ‹ ESMR
- ‹ ESL
- ‹ Eskişehir
- ‹ Eskimo dog
- ‹ Eskimo-Aleut
- ‹ Eskimo
- ‹ esker
- ‹ Esk
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