adj.
Pronunciation: ˌ e-s ə - ' ter-ik, - ' te-rik
Function: adjective
Etymology: Late Latin esotericus, from Greek es ō terikos, from es ō ter ō , comparative of eis ō , es ō within, from eis into; akin to Greek en in ― more at IN
Date: circa 1660
1 a : designed for or understood by the specially initiated alone <a body of esoteric legal doctrine ― B. N. Cardozo> b : requiring or exhibiting knowledge that is restricted to a small group < esoteric terminology> broadly : difficult to understand < esoteric subjects>
2 a : limited to a small circle <engaging in esoteric pursuits> b : PRIVATE , CONFIDENTIAL <an esoteric purpose>
3 : of special, rare, or unusual interest < esoteric building materials>
– es · o · ter · i · cal · ly \ -i-k( ə -)l ē \ adverb