esoteric

es·o·ter·ic

 (ĕs′ə-tĕr′ĭk)

adj.

1.

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.

2. Not known by or suitable for the public; private: Few understood the celebrity's esoteric side.

n.

1. One that is esoteric.

2. esoterics Esoteric matters; esoterica: "The course ... is anything but an exercise in ivory tower esoterics" (Sharon Waxman).

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

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es′o·ter′i·cal·ly adv.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

esoteric

(ˌɛsəʊˈtɛrɪk)

adj

1. restricted to or intended for an enlightened or initiated minority, esp because of abstruseness or obscurity: an esoteric cult. Compare exoteric

2. difficult to understand; abstruse: an esoteric statement.

3. not openly admitted; private: esoteric aims.

[C17: from Greek esōterikos, from esōterō inner]

ˌesoˈterically adv

ˌesoˈteriˌcism, ˌeˈsoteˌrism n

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

es•o•ter•ic

(ˌɛs əˈtɛr ɪk)

adj.

1. understood by or meant for only the select few who have special knowledge or interest or for the initiates of a group; recondite.

2. belonging to the select few.

3. private; secret.

[1645–55; < Greek esōterikós]

es`o•ter′i•cal•ly, adv.

es`o•ter′i•cism (-ˌsɪz əm) n.

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

esoteric

- Its root sense is "for the initiates of a religious mystery," and it means "confined to or understood by just a few people."

See also related terms for understood.

Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.

Thesaurus

Adj.

1.

esoteric - confined to and understandable by only an enlightened inner circle; "a compilation of esoteric philosophical theories" private - confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy; "a private place"; "private discussions"; "private lessons"; "a private club"; "a private secretary"; "private property"; "the former President is now a private citizen"; "public figures struggle to maintain a private life" exoteric - suitable for the general public; "writings of an exoteric nature"

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

esoteric

adjective obscure, private, secret, hidden, inner, mysterious, mystical, mystic, occult, arcane, cryptic, inscrutable, abstruse, recondite, cabbalistic She has published several books on pathworking and other esoteric subjects.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

esoteric

adjective

Beyond the understanding of an average mind:

abstruse, deep, profound, recondite.

Slang: heavy.

The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Translations

esoterischgeheim

απόκρυφοςεσωτερικός

esotéricaesotéricasesotéricoesotéricosobscuro

esoteerinenluottamuksellinen

ésotériqueobscurcérébral

ezoteričan

esotericoesotericaesotericheesoterici

奥義の深遠な秘儀の秘密の

cerebraalesoterischexclusief

ezoterycznyniezrozumiałyskrytytajemnytajny

скрытыйтайныйэзотерический

esoteric

[ˌesəʊˈterɪk] ADJ → esotérico

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

esoteric

[ˌiːsəʊˈtɛrɪk] adj → ésotérique

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

esoteric

adj → esoterisch

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

esoteric

[ˌɛsəʊˈtɛrɪk] adj → esoterico/a

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995