esoteric

es·o·ter·ic

Use esoteric in a sentence

Freemasons use many esoteric symbols such as the two-headed eagle which signifies the dual nature of man.

adjective

The definition of esoteric is something only understood by a chosen group.

An example of esoteric is pa++ern, an embroidery language.

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"esoteric." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 October 2018. <http://www.yourdictionary.com/Esoteric>.

APA Style

esoteric. (n.d.). Retrieved October 14th, 2018, from http://www.yourdictionary.com/Esoteric

esoteric

1. intended for or understood by only a chosen few, as an inner group of disciples or initiates: said of ideas, literature, etc.
2. beyond the understanding or knowledge of most people; abstruse
confidential; private; withheld: an esoteric plan

Origin of esoteric

Classical Greek es?terikos from es?teros, inner, comparative of es?, within from es, eis, into

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MLA Style

"esoteric." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 October 2018. <http://www.yourdictionary.com/Esoteric>.

APA Style

esoteric. (n.d.). Retrieved October 14th, 2018, from http://www.yourdictionary.com/Esoteric

esoteric

adjective

a. Intended for or understood by only a small group, especially one with specialized knowledge or interests: an esoteric philosophical doctrine. See Synonyms at mysterious.
b. Relating to or being a small group with specialized knowledge or interests: an esoteric circle.
Not known by or suitable for the public; private: Few understood the celebrity's esoteric side.

noun

One that is esoteric.
esoterics Esoteric matters; esoterica: “The course … is anything but an exercise in ivory tower esoterics” ( Sharon Waxman )

Origin of esoteric

Greek esōterikos from esōterō comparative of esō within ; see en in Indo-European roots.

Related Forms:

es′o·ter′i·cal·ly
adverb

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"esoteric." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 October 2018. <http://www.yourdictionary.com/Esoteric>.

APA Style

esoteric. (n.d.). Retrieved October 14th, 2018, from http://www.yourdictionary.com/Esoteric

Adjective

(comparative more esoteric, superlative most esoteric)

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 need a degree in engineering just to understand it!
Having to do with concepts that are highly theoretical and without obvious practical application; often with mystical or religious connotations.
Confidential; private.

Related terms

Origin

From Ancient Greek ἐσωτερικός (esōterikos, “belonging to an inner circle”), from ἐσωτέρω (esōterō, “further inside”), comparative of ἔσω (esō, “within”), from ἐς (es), εἰς (eis, “into”) (esoteric originally referred to the secret teachings of Greek philosophers, versus public or exoteric ones).

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.