esoteric en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- /ˌɛs.oʊˈtɛɹ.ɪk/ (US)
- /ˌɛs.əˈtɛɹ.ɪk/ (US)
- (New-Jersey) audio
- /ˌɛs.oʊˈtɛɹ.ɪk/ (Canada)
- ěsətěr'ĭk (US)
- audio Queensland
- /ˌiː.səˈteɹ.ɪk/ (Australia)
- (US) audio
- /ˌes.əˈteɹ.ɪk/ (Australia)
- ěsōtěr'ĭk (US)
- /ˌiː.səʊˈtɛɹ.ɪk/ (UK)
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).
Meanings
-
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!
In this situation Hitler availed himself of a time-honored device-the use of esoteric language. In all periods of history, when government or society has put limits on public discussion, those who wish to circumvent censorship resort to the use of esoteric language. Exoterically understood, the text is unexceptionable, but to the insiders who know how to interpret the words, the message is revolutionary and dangerous to the status quo.
1975, Lucy S. Dawidowicz, The War Against the Jews 1933-1945:
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Having to do with concepts that are highly theoretical and without obvious practical application; often with mystical or religious connotations.
When he spoke to me of esoteric mysteries I wanted to say to him,"Don't give me that spiritual hokum, friend!"
1976 September, Saul Bellow, Humboldt’s Gift, New York, N.Y.: Avon Books, →ISBN, page 278:
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Confidential; private.
an esoteric meeting
an esoteric purpose
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| more esoteric | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| most esoteric | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| esoterick | alternative, obsolete | lexicographic |
Antonyms
Coordinates
Deriveds
esoteric programming language · unesoteric · nonesoteric
Relateds
esoterically · esoterica · exotericism · exoterism · esoterism · exoteric · esotericism · esotericist
Synonyms
secretive · acroamatic · arcane · recondite
Translations (84)
tr gizli (confidential; private) · fi esoteerinen (understood only by a chosen few) · fr ésotérique (understood only by a chosen few) · sv esoterisk (understood only by a chosen few) · grc ἐσωτερικός (understood only by a chosen few) · is heimullegur (understood only by a chosen few) · fur esoteric (understood only by a chosen few) · af geheimsinnig (understood only by a chosen few) · fi luottamuksellinen (confidential; private) · el εσωτερικός (understood only by a chosen few) · lt ezoterinis (understood only by a chosen few) · ca esotèric (having to do with concepts that are highly theoretical) · pl skryty (confidential; private) · sh езотѐричан (having to do with concepts that are highly theoretical) · tr ezoterik (confidential; private) · nl cerebraal (having to do with concepts that are highly theoretical) · de geheim (confidential; private) · ca esotèric (confidential; private) · de esoterisch (understood only by a chosen few) · cs tajný (confidential; private) · ca esotèric (understood only by a chosen few) · fa خواصفهم (understood only by a chosen few) · cs esoterický (understood only by a chosen few) · pl niezrozumiały (having to do with concepts that are highly theoretical) · mk езотеричен (understood only by a chosen few) · hu ezoterikus (understood only by a chosen few) · it esoterico (understood only by a chosen few) · sh езотѐричан (understood only by a chosen few) · sh ezotèričan (understood only by a chosen few) · ja 秘密の (confidential; private) · sh ezotèričan (confidential; private) · pt secreto (confidential; private) · ru та́йный (confidential; private) · pl tajny (confidential; private) · fa غامض (understood only by a chosen few) · pl ezoteryczny (understood only by a chosen few) · pt esotérico (understood only by a chosen few) · de esoterisch (having to do with concepts that are highly theoretical) · bg поверителен (confidential; private) · cmn 玄妙的 (having to do with concepts that are highly theoretical) · da esoterisk (understood only by a chosen few) · mi puri (having to do with concepts that are highly theoretical) · cmn 深晦的 (having to do with concepts that are highly theoretical) · es esotérico (understood only by a chosen few) · pl tajemny (understood only by a chosen few) · ru эзотери́ческий (understood only by a chosen few) · pt esotérico (having to do with concepts that are highly theoretical) · bg въ́трешен (understood only by a chosen few) · ja 奥義の (understood only by a chosen few) · ru эзотери́ческий (having to do with concepts that are highly theoretical) · ja 深遠な (having to do with concepts that are highly theoretical) · cmn 隱秘的 /隐秘的 (confidential; private) · tr bâtıni (understood only by a chosen few) · tr ezoterik (understood only by a chosen few) · no esoterisk (having to do with concepts that are highly theoretical) · pl ezoteryczny (confidential; private) · sh езотѐричан (confidential; private) · nl exclusief (confidential; private) · pt confidencial (confidential; private) · el απόκρυφος (having to do with concepts that are highly theoretical) · cmn 秘傳的 /秘传的 (understood only by a chosen few) · mk езотеричен (having to do with concepts that are highly theoretical) · fr cérébral (having to do with concepts that are highly theoretical) · el μυστικός (confidential; private) · tr ezoterik (having to do with concepts that are highly theoretical) · bg езотеричен (understood only by a chosen few) · ru эзотери́ческий (confidential; private) · cmn 深奧的 /深奥的 (having to do with concepts that are highly theoretical) · sh ezotèričan (having to do with concepts that are highly theoretical) · nl esoterisch (having to do with concepts that are highly theoretical) · oc esoteric (understood only by a chosen few) · bg таен (confidential; private) · tr içrek (understood only by a chosen few) · cs akademický (having to do with concepts that are highly theoretical) · el εσωτερικός (confidential; private) · ja 秘儀の (understood only by a chosen few) · no esoterisk (understood only by a chosen few) · fi esoteerinen (having to do with concepts that are highly theoretical) · pl zawiły (having to do with concepts that are highly theoretical) · ro ezoteric (understood only by a chosen few) · tr saklı (confidential; private) · ru скры́тый (confidential; private) · fi yksityinen (confidential; private) · nl esoterisch (understood only by a chosen few)