a. and sb. [ad. Gr. ἐσωτερικ-ός, f. ἐσωτέρω, compar. of ἔσω within.
The Gr. word occurs first in Lucian, who ascribes to Aristotle a classification of his own works into ‘esoteric’ and ‘exoteric.’ (Cic. De Fin. v. § 5 recognizes such a classification, but uses only the term ‘exoteric,’ leaving the opposite class undesignated; Aristotle himself merely uses ἐξωτερικός in the sense of ‘popular, untechnical.’) By later writers the word was employed to designate the secret doctrines said to have been taught by Pythagoras to a select few among his disciples.]
A. adj.
1. Of philosophical doctrines, treatises, modes of speech, etc.: Designed for, or appropriate to, an inner circle of advanced or privileged disciples; communicated to, or intelligible by, the initiated exclusively. Hence of disciples: Belonging to the inner circle, admitted to the esoteric teaching. Opposed to EXOTERIC.
Esoteric Buddhism: a system of ‘theosophical’ doctrines, alleged by its adherents to have been handed down by secret tradition among an initiated class of Buddhists.
1655–60. Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1701), 372/1. The Auditors of Pythagoras … were of two sorts, Exoterick and Esoterick: the Exotericks were those who were under probation, which if they well performed, they were admitted to be Esotericks.
1738. Warburton, Div. Legat., III. § 2 (1755), 98. The exoteric teaching [of the Pythagoreans] admitted fable and falsehood … the esoteric only what the teacher believed to be true.
a. 1754. Fielding, Comm. Bolingbroke’s Ess., Wks. 1784, X. 310. In rescuing the esoteric purity of his doctrines from that less amiable appearance in which their exoteric garb represents them.
1768–74. Tucker, Lt. Nat. (1834), II. 677. These two classes [the adept and the vulgar] must be addressed in two different languages, the esoteric and the exoteric.
1817. Coleridge, Biog. Lit., I. x. 200. I considered … the Trinity … entitled to the rank of an esoteric doctrine of natural religion.
1837. Hallam, Hist. Lit., I. I. iii. § 90. 204. A hidden stream of esoteric truth was supposed to flow beneath all the surface of Scripture.
1883. Sinnett (title), Esoteric Buddhism.
b. absol. (quasi-sb.) = ‘Esoteric sense.’ rare.
1842. Mrs. Browning, Grk. Chr. Poets (1863), 52. The esoteric of the most suspicious turnings of his phraseology is ‘Glory to the true God.’
2. transf. a. Of motives, purposes, etc.: Not openly avowed. b. Pertaining to a select circle; private, confidential. c. Qualifying a personal epithet: That is esoterically such.
1866. G. W. Thornbury, Greatheart, III. 176. He had two motives in his visit, an exoteric and an esoteric motive.
1859. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., V. 206. His esoteric project was the original project of Christopher Columbus.
1876. Black, Madcap Violet, xliii. How could he aid in this esoteric interview?
1876. Fairbairn, Strauss, II. Strauss had hardly the stuff in him to be an exoteric Conservative while an esoteric Radical.
1881. Nature, XXIV. 578/2. There is nothing to hinder them having also more esoteric meetings at stated intervals.
3. Phys. (In etymological sense): ‘Applied to things which relate to, or have origin within the organism’ (Syd. Soc. Lex.).
1860. in Mayne, Expos. Lex.
B. sb.
1. pl. (after Gr. τὰ ἐσωτερικά.) Esoteric doctrines; esoteric treatises.
1711. trans. Werenfels’ Disc. Logomachys, 99. Aristotle’s Books of deep Learning, his Acroamaticks, Esotericks, Epopticks, and mysterious Writings.
1768–74. Tucker, Lt. Nat. (1852), I. 430. Our predecessors had their esoterics and exoterics.
1809. Knox & Jebb, Corr., I. 488. Alexander complained to Aristotle, that he had done ill to give the world his esotericks.
1821. S. Parr, Wks. (1828), VIII. 353. I must, in my esoterics, stand aloof from all controversies.
2. One initiated in esoteric doctrines.
1655–60. [see A. 1].
