Contextualizebeta

esoteric

adj
/ˌiː.səʊˈtɛɹ.ɪk/UK/ˌɛs.əˈtɛɹ.ɪk/US/ˌɛs.oʊˈtɛɹ.ɪk/CA/ˌiː.səˈteɹ.ɪk/

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).

  1. learned borrowing from ἐσωτερικός — “belonging to an inner circle”

Definitions

  1. Intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a…

    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!

  2. Having to do with concepts that are highly theoretical and without obvious practical…

    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!"

  3. Confidential

    Confidential; private.

    • an esoteric purpose
    • an esoteric meeting
  4. ›+ 2 more definitions

    1. An esoteric doctrine or treatise

      An esoteric doctrine or treatise; esoteric philosophy.

    2. One who believes, or is an initiate, in esoteric doctrines or rites.

The neighborhood

Derived

esoteric programming language, nonesoteric, unesoteric

Vish — recursive loop

A definitional loop anchored at esoteric. Each word in the ring is defined by the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself. Scroll to it and watch.

01esoteric02mystical03fascination04fascinates05fascinate06spellbind07spell08incantation

A definitional loop anchored at esoteric. Each word in the ring appears in the definition of the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself.

8 hops · closes at esoteric

curated · pre-corpus. live cycle detection across the full graph is the next major milestone.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA