Definitions for Esoteric
ˌɛs əˈtɛr ɪkes·o·ter·ic

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:2.5 / 2 votes

1. esotericadjective

   confined to and understandable by only an enlightened inner circle

   "a compilation of esoteric philosophical theories"

WiktionaryRate this definition:1.0 / 1 vote

1. esotericadjective

   Understood only by a chosen few or an enlightened inner circle.

   The writing in this manual is very esoteric; I need a degree in engineering just to understand it!

2. esotericadjective

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

3. esotericadjective

   Confidential; private.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. esoteric

   Western esotericism, also known as esotericism, esoterism, and sometimes the Western mystery tradition, is a term scholars use to categorise a wide range of loosely related ideas and movements that developed within Western society. These ideas and currents are united since they are largely distinct both from orthodox Judeo-Christian religion and Enlightenment rationalism. Esotericism has pervaded various forms of Western philosophy, religion, pseudoscience, art, literature, and music—and continues to influence intellectual ideas and popular culture. The idea of grouping a wide range of Western traditions and philosophies together under the term esotericism developed in Europe during the late seventeenth century. Various academics have debated various definitions of Western esotericism. One view adopts a definition from certain esotericist schools of thought themselves, treating "esotericism" as a perennial hidden inner tradition. A second perspective sees esotericism as a category of movements that embrace an "enchanted" worldview in the face of increasing disenchantment. A third views Western esotericism as encompassing all of Western culture's "rejected knowledge" that is accepted neither by the scientific establishment nor orthodox religious authorities. The earliest traditions that later analysis labelled as forms of Western esotericism emerged in the Eastern Mediterranean during Late Antiquity, where Hermeticism, Gnosticism, Neopythagoreanism and Neoplatonism developed as schools of thought distinct from what became mainstream Christianity. Renaissance Europe saw increasing interest in many of these older ideas, with various intellectuals combining "pagan" philosophies with the Kabbalah and Christian philosophy, resulting in the emergence of esoteric movements like Christian Kabbalah and Christian theosophy. The seventeenth century saw the development of initiatory societies professing esoteric knowledge such as Rosicrucianism and Freemasonry, while the Age of Enlightenment of the eighteenth century led to the development of new forms of esoteric thought. The nineteenth-century saw the emergence of new trends of esoteric thought now known as occultism. Prominent groups in this century included the Theosophical Society and the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. Also important in this connexion is Martinus Thomsen's "spiritual science". Modern Paganism developed within occultism and includes religious movements such as Wicca. Esoteric ideas permeated the counterculture of the 1960s and later cultural tendencies, which led to the New Age phenomenon in the 1970s. The idea that these varying movements could be categorised together under the rubric of "Western esotericism" developed in the late eighteenth century, but these esoteric currents were largely ignored as a subject of academic enquiry. The academic study of Western esotericism only emerged in the late twentieth century, pioneered by scholars like Frances Yates and Antoine Faivre. Esoteric ideas have meanwhile also exerted an influence on popular culture, appearing in art, literature, film, and music.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. esoteric

   Esoteric refers to knowledge, information, or practices that are understood or intended to be known only by a limited number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest – often a type of inner circle or select group. It can also refer to information or ideas that are often difficult to understand and obscure, regarded as complex or beyond ordinary knowledge or understanding. Esoteric ideas or language can be used in various disciplines including philosophy, religion, science, and the arts.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:1.0 / 1 vote

1. Esotericadjective

   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 the private and more recondite instructions and doctrines of philosophers. Opposed to exoteric

2. Etymology: [Gr. 'eswteriko`s, fr. 'esw`teros inner, interior, comp. fr. 'e`sw in, within, fr. 'es, e'is, into, fr. 'en in. See In.]

WikidataRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Esoteric

   Esoteric is a British funeral doom band from Birmingham founded in 1992.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Esoteric

   es-o-ter′ik, adj. inner: secret: mysterious: (phil.) taught to a select few—opp. to Exoteric.—adv. Esoter′ically.—ns. Esoter′icism, Esot′erism, the holding of esoteric opinions.—Esoteric Buddhism (see Theosophy). [Gr. esōterikos—esōterō, inner, a comp. form from esō, within.]

The Nuttall EncyclopediaRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Esoteric

   a term used to denote teaching intended only for the initiated, and intelligible only to them.

Suggested ResourcesRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. esoteric

   Song lyrics by esoteric -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by esoteric on the Lyrics.com website.

Anagrams for Esoteric »

1. coteries

How to pronounce Esoteric?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say Esoteric in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of Esoteric in Chaldean Numerology is: 3

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of Esoteric in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Examples of Esoteric in a Sentence

1. William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne:

   My esoteric doctrine, is that if you entertain any doubt, it is safest to take the unpopular side in the first instance. Transit from the unpopular, is easy... but from the popular to the unpopular is so steep and rugged that it is impossible to maintain it.

2. Dominic Simpson:

   There is a general lack of expertise and a track record, experience shows that when insurers start to invest in these more esoteric asset classes, they are not always going to invest in the most secure assets.

3. Andy Ricker:

   My hope is that people will be more readily accepting of the things that are a little more esoteric.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=Esoteric
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Esoteric
3. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esoteric
4. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
5. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Esoteric
6. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=Esoteric
7. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=Esoteric
8. ^ The Nuttall Encyclopedia
   https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/12342/pg12342-images.html#Esoteric