prefix [Gr. ἔσω within], employed in a few compounds of modern formation from words of Greek origin, as Esoenteritis, Path. [see ENTERITIS], inflammation of the intestinal mucous membrane. Esogastritis, Path. [see GASTRITIS], inflammation of the mucous lining of the stomach. Esonarthex [see NARTHEX], the inner vestibule of a Greek church (cf. EXONARTHEX). Esoneural a. [see NEURAL], operating within the nerves. Esoscopic a. rare [Gr. -σκοπ-ος watching + -IC], (see quot.).
1847. Craig, *Esoenterites. Ibid., *Esogastrites.
1850. Neale, East. Ch., I. 245. The *esonarthex opens on to the church by nine doors, to the exonarthex by five.
1851. H. Mayo, Pop. Superst. (ed. 2), 73. The mental forces, or operations of a living human being, may be conceived to be essentially *esoneural.
1816. Bentham, Chrestom., Wks. (1838–43), VIII. 94. Division of Politics and Government into *Esoscopic, i. e. internal or interior-concerns-regarding, viz. Internal Government, and Exoscopic.
