esoteric
Use Esoteric in a sentence
əˈtɛr adjective
1.
understood by or meant for only the select few who have special knowledge or interest; recondite: poetry full of esoteric allusions.
2.
belonging to the select few.
3.
private; secret; confidential.
4.
(of a philosophical doctrine or the like) intended to be revealed only to the initiates of a group: the esoteric doctrines of Pythagoras.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To esoteric
00:10
Esoteric
is a GRE word you need to know.
So is gauche. Does it mean:
| lacking social grace, sensitivity, or acuteness; awkward, crude or tactless |
| of or pertaining to a practical point of view or practical considerations. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
esoteric (ˌɛsəʊˈtɛrɪk) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | Compare exoteric restricted to or intended for an enlightened or initiated minority, esp because of abstruseness or obscurity: an esoteric cult |
| 2. | difficult to understand; abstruse: an esoteric statement |
| 3. | not openly admitted; private: esoteric aims |
| [C17: from Greek esōterikos, from esōterō inner] | |
| eso'terically | |
| —adv | |
| eso'tericism | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
esoteric
1650s, from Gk. esoterikos "belonging to an inner circle," from esotero, comparative adv. of eso "within." In English, originally of Pythagorean doctrines. According to Lucian, the division of teachings into exoteric and esoteric originated with Aristotle.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
Economics has a practical reputation, but students of it often complain they find it esoteric.
Maybe if those wastes are sufficiently esoteric, it might indicate manufacturing.
It is particularly rewarding when my work is appreciated for clean design devoid of esoteric meaning.
As a scientific journal it is easy to publish esoteric articles with no immediate implications for your quality of life.
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