a. and sb. [ad. late L. exōteric-us, a. Gr. ἐξωτερικ-ός, f. & ἐξωτέρω, compar. of ἔξω outside.]
A. adj.
1. Pertaining to the outside; external. Now only with some allusion to sense 2.
1662. H. More, Philos. Writ., Pref. (1662), p. vi. An Exoterick Fence or exteriour Fortification about Theologie.
1790. Paley, Horæ Paul., Wks. 1825, III. 127. This motive appears to have been always exoteric, viz. a love of order and tranquillity.
1808. Scott, Autobiog., in Lockhart (1839), I. 50. All the knights and ladies and dragons and giants in their outward and exoteric sense.
1858. Gladstone, Homer, II. 60. Charged with the exoteric and material parts of several … functions.
b. Phys. ‘Applied to those periodic, vital phenomena, which result from causes external to, and independent of, the organism.’ (Syd. Soc. Lex., 1884).
1860. in Mayne, Expos. Lex.
2. Of philosophical doctrines, treatises, modes of speech, etc.: Designed for or suitable to the generality of disciples; communicated to outsiders, intelligible to the public. Hence of disciples, etc.: Belonging to the outer circle; not admitted to the esoteric teaching. Of an author: Dealing with ordinary topics; commonplace, simple. Opposed to ESOTERIC, q.v. for the history of the words.
1655–60. Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1701), 232/1. The Discourse and Doctrine which he [Aristotle] delivered to his Disciples was of two kinds. One he called Exoterick, the other Acroatick.
1738. Warburton, Div. Legat., III. iii. Wks. (1811), III. 58. He divided his disciples into two classes; the one he called the Esoteric, the other, the Exoteric.
a. 1754, 1768. [see ESOTERIC A. 1].
1791. Boswell, Johnson, 1 July, an. 1763. With an air of superiority, like that of an esoterick over an exoterick disciple of a sage of antiquity.
1847. Lewes, Hist. Philos. (1867), I. 210. Plato like Pythagoras had exoteric and esoteric opinions.
1870. R. C. Jebb, Sophocles’ Electra (ed. 2), 44/2. As if Apollo were an exoteric name for the Sun.
1870. Lowell, Among My Books, Ser. I. (1873), 153. In mind and temperament too exoteric for a mystic.
3. transf. a. Current among the outside public; popular, ordinary, prevailing. b. Qualifying a personal epithet: That is such exoterically, or with regard to his popular utterances.
1813. Mar. Edgeworth, Patron., xxxvi. This exoteric practice goes on to this hour among literary performers.
1850. Carlyle, Latter-d. Pamph., iii. 6. Such … is the exoteric public conviction about these sublime establishments in Downing Street.
1876. [see ESOTERIC A. 2].
B. sb.
1. pl. (after Gr. τὰ ἐξωτερικά) Exoteric doctrines; exoteric treatises.
1738. Warburton, Div. Legat., iii. note Wks. (1811), III. 359. In his exoterics, he gave the world both a beginning and an end.
1768–74. Tucker, Lt. Nat. (1834), II. 31. Our exoterics will run directly contrary to our esoterics.
2. An uninitiated person, an outsider.
1697. State Philadelph. Soc., 19. The Philadelphians have many things to say that cannot be declared among the Exotericks.
1824. Macaulay, Crit. Ital. Writers, Misc. Writ. & Sp. (1889), 51. I am an exoteric—utterly unable to explain the mysteries of this new poetical faith.
