'Esoteric' definitions:
Definition of 'esoteric'
(from WordNet)
adjective
Confined to and understandable by only an enlightened inner circle; "a compilation of esoteric philosophical theories" [ant: exoteric]
Definition of 'Esoteric'
From: GCIDE
- Esoteric \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.]
- 1. 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 discussions of technical topics and of the private and more recondite instructions and doctrines of philosophers. Opposed to exoteric. [1913 Webster]
- Enough if every age produce two or three critics of this esoteric class, with here and there a reader to understand them. --De Quincey. [1913 Webster]
- 2. Marked by secrecy or privacy; private; select; confidential; as, an esoteric purpose; an esoteric meeting. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
Definition of 'Esoteric'
From: GCIDE
- Esoteric \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. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
Synonyms of 'esoteric'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- absolute,
- abstract,
- abstruse,
- anagogic,
- arcane,
- auricular,
- between the lines,
- between us,
- cabalic,
- cabalistic,
- censored,
- certain,
- classified,
- close,
- closed,
- concealed,
- concrete,
- confidential,
- covert,
- cryptic,
- dark,
- deep,
- deep-seated,
- defined,
- definite,
- delitescent,
- detailed,
- determinate,
- different,
- distinct,
- distinguished,
- dormant,
- eerie,
- enigmatic,
- especial,
- exceptional,
- express,
- extramundane,
- extraordinary,
- extraterrestrial,
- fey,
- fixed,
- heavy,
- hermetic,
- hibernating,
- hidden,
- hush-hush,
- hypernormal,
- hyperphysical,
- immanent,
- implanted,
- implicit,
- in petto,
- inalienable,
- individual,
- indwelling,
- infixed,
- ingrained,
- inherent,
- inner,
- inside,
- internal,
- intimate,
- intrinsic,
- inward,
- inwrought,
- irreducible,
- latent,
- lurking,
- metaphysic,
- minute,
- muffled,
- mysterious,
- mystic,
- not for publication,
- noteworthy,
- numinous,
- obfuscated,
- obscured,
- occult,
- off the record,
- otherworldly,
- particular,
- personal,
- possible,
- potential,
- precise,
- preterhuman,
- preternatural,
- preternormal,
- pretersensual,
- private,
- privileged,
- profound,
- psychic,
- recondite,
- resident,
- respective,
- restricted,
- sealed,
- secret,
- several,
- singular,
- sleeping,
- smothered,
- solipsistic,
- special,
- specific,
- spiritual,
- stifled,
- subjective,
- submerged,
- superhuman,
- supernatural,
- supernormal,
- superphysical,
- supersensible,
- supersensual,
- suppressed,
- supramundane,
- supranatural,
- theosophical,
- theosophist,
- top secret,
- transcendental,
- transmundane,
- ulterior,
- unalienable,
- unbreatheable,
- unchallengeable,
- under privilege,
- under security,
- under the surface,
- under wraps,
- underlying,
- undisclosable,
- undisclosed,
- undivulgable,
- undivulged,
- unearthly,
- unhuman,
- unmanifested,
- unpublishable,
- unquestionable,
- unrevealable,
- unrevealed,
- unspoken,
- untellable,
- untold,
- unutterable,
- unuttered,
- unwhisperable,
- unworldly,
- veiled,
- virtual