Definitions for: Esoteric

[adj] confined to and understandable by only an enlightened inner circle; "a compilation of esoteric philosophical theories"

Webster (1913) Definition: Es`o*ter"ic ([e^]s`[-o]*t[e^]"[i^]k), a. [Gr.
'eswteriko`s, fr. 'esw`teros inner, interior, comp. fr. 'e`sw
in, within, fr. 'es, e'is, into, fr. 'en in. See In.]
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.

Enough if every age produce two or three critics of
this esoteric class, with here and there a reader to
understand them. --De Quincey.

Es`o*ter"ic, a.
Marked by secrecy or privacy; private; select; confidential;
as, an esoteric purpose; an esoteric meeting.

Es`o*ter"ic, n. (Philos.)
(a) An esoteric doctrine or treatise; esoteric philosophy;
esoterics.
(b) One who believes, or is an initiate, in esoteric
doctrines or rites.

Synonyms: abstruse, arcane, cabalistic, cryptic, cryptical, deep, mysterious, mystic, mystical, occult, orphic, recondite, secret, sibylline

Antonyms: exoteric

See Also: fathomless, private, unfathomable

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