esoteric

[ es-uh-ter-ik ]
/ ˌɛs əˈtɛr ɪk /

adjective

understood by or meant for only the select few who have special knowledge or interest; recondite: poetry full of esoteric allusions.
belonging to the select few.
private; secret; confidential.
(of a philosophical doctrine or the like) intended to be revealed only to the initiates of a group: the esoteric doctrines of Pythagoras.

Origin of esoteric

1645–55; < Greek esōterikós inner, equivalent to esṓter(os) inner + -ikos -ic

SYNONYMS FOR esoteric

1 abstruse, arcane, cryptic, enigmatic.

OTHER WORDS FROM esoteric

es·o·ter·i·cal·ly, adverb non·es·o·ter·ic, adjective non·es·o·ter·i·cal·ly, adverb un·es·o·ter·ic, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH esoteric

esoteric exoteric

Words nearby esoteric

esophagostomy, esophagotomy, esophagus, esophoria, esosphenoiditis, esoteric, esoterica, esotericism, esoterism, esotery, esotropia

Example sentences from the Web for esoterically

  • Esoterically understood, his novel teaches a doctrine of mysticism, intuitionalism, and materialism combined.

    Balzac |Frederick Lawton

  • M. Bourgeat hazards the suggestion that esoterically it is the symbol of evolution—of which it carries none of the signs.

    The Illustrated Key to the Tarot |L. W. de Laurence

  • Esoterically, she is the daughter of the exalted God, and she is the soul.

    Sex=The Unknown Quantity |Ali Nomad

  • He desired that the Kabbala be taught only in secret (esoterically), and be not expounded in public.

    History of the Jews, Vol. III (of 6) |Heinrich Graetz

British Dictionary definitions for esoterically

esoteric
/ (ˌɛsəʊˈtɛrɪk) /

adjective

restricted to or intended for an enlightened or initiated minority, esp because of abstruseness or obscurity an esoteric cult Compare exoteric
difficult to understand; abstruse an esoteric statement
not openly admitted; private esoteric aims

Derived forms of esoteric

esoterically, adverb esotericism, noun

Word Origin for esoteric

C17: from Greek esōterikos, from esōterō inner