a. and sb. [ad. L. exōtic-us, a. Gr. ἐξωτικός, f. ἔξω outside. Cf. Fr. exotique.]
A. adj.
1. † a. Belonging to another country, foreign, alien (obs.). b. In narrowed sense: Introduced from abroad, not indigenous. Now chiefly of plants (in popular language with added sense of ‘not naturalized or acclimatized’); also, of words, forms of speech or writing, fashions, etc.
1599. B. Jonson, Ev. Man out of Hum., IV. iii. Magick, Witchcraft, or other such exotick arts.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., II. vi. § 3. 98. For as Exotick observers deliver, it [Misseltoe] groweth upon Almond trees [etc.].
1650. Fuller, Pisgah, I. xii. 38. It was an exotick and forain territory.
1660. Sharrock, Vegetables, 34. [The] Mulbery is … an Exotique plant.
1680. Morden, Geog. Rect., Wales (1688), 27. [Welsh] hath the least mixture of Exotick words of any now used in Europe.
1756. Foote, Engl. ret. fr. Paris, Wks. 1799, I. 123. I’ll have these exotic attendants … sent post to the place from whence they came.
1779–81. Johnson, L. P., Hughes. The Italian Opera, an exotick and irrational entertainment.
1793. Murphy, Tacitus (1805), I. 235. And invited to reign over them an exotic king.
1839. De Quincey, Recoll. Lakes, Wks. 1862, II. 78. Rome had cast much of her literature in her own moulds before these exotic models had begun to domineer.
1845. Florist’s Jrnl., 23. The exotic class of the order.
† c. Drawn from outside; extrinsic. Also, Foreign in character, alien to. Obs.
1671. R. Bohun, Disc. conc. Wind, 56. They run streaming between two Mountains…; and are guarded on all sides from the inroads of other Exotique Winds and Air.
a. 1718. Penn, Tracts, Wks. 1726, I. 473. These, and the like Practices (strange and exotick to the Primitive and Christian Faith and Worship).
1727. De Foe, Syst. Magic, I. iii. (1840), 79. An absolute necessity of some exotic helps.
2. a. Of or pertaining to, or characteristic of a foreigner, or what is foreign (now rare); hence † b. Outlandish, barbarous, strange, uncouth (obs.).
a. a. 1659. Bp. Morton, Episc. Justified (1670), 51. Mr. Selden, the Ornament of our Nation for Exotick Learning.
1720. Swift, Mod. Educ., Wks. 1755, II. II. 34. An exotick habit and demeanor, added to other foreign accomplishments.
1833. I. Taylor, Fanat., vi. 167. When shall the European families drive the exotic tyranny for ever from their shores!
1875. Maine, Hist. Inst., viii. 230. The exotic extraction of one of the Original Tribes.
b. 1629. J. Maxwell, trans. Herodian (1635), 295. Entring the City and Curia in that exoticke and barbarous garbe.
1630. Brathwait, Eng. Gentlem. (1641), 149. The boarish and exoticke speech of Diogenes.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 224. Lest your entreated patience turne into exoticke passion.
1720. Welton, Suffer. Son of God, I. x. 252. A Man, who would make this the Rule of his Conduct, Passes for an Extraordinary, Singular … and Exotick spirit.
1739. Cibber, Apol., xi. 312. In his dealing with so exotick a Partner.
1815. Scott, Guy M., xxix. I have not the poor satisfaction of interesting a human being—not even the exotic monster of a parson.
B. sb.
1. A plant, formerly also an animal, of foreign extraction; in popular language, a foreign plant not acclimatized or naturalized.
c. 1645. C. Morton, An Enquiry, 2. The crane is an exotick.
1672. Grew, Anat. Plants, Idea Philos. Hist. Pl., § 8 (1682), 4. All Exoticks … may probably be reduced to some such Domesticks.
1762–71. H. Walpole, Vertue’s Anecd. Paint. (1786), IV. 294. In the bishop of London’s garden at Fulham are many exotics of very ancient date.
1796. C. Marshall, Garden., xix. (1815), 387. What has been said of Geraniums, applies to all … Exotics.
1812. Rees’s Cycl., s.v., The generality of exotics … do not thrive in England without some peculiar care and culture.
1846. J. Baxter, Libr. Pract. Agric. (ed. 4), II. Introd. 4. Potatoes were first … cultivated as a rare exotic.
b. transf. and fig.
1795. W. Taylor, in Monthly Rev., XVII. 410. The Welsh is wholly self-derived, and free from exotics.
1823. Lamb, Elia, Ser. I. iii. (1865), 19. Roast veal, or … griskin (exotics unknown to our palates).
1849. H. Rogers, Ess., II. vi. 303. Other systems of religion are usually delicate exotics, and will not bear transplanting.
1858. Buckle, Civiliz. (1869), II. viii. 543. In a country like Spain, a great bank was an exotic which might live with art but could never thrive by nature.
2. A person of foreign origin; a foreigner. rare.
1651. Fuller’s Abel Rediv., 516. Proclamations were every where set up against exotics.
1763. Wilkes, Corr. (1805), I. 80. One other exotic, too, I must not forget: Arthur Murphy, gent.
1841. Catlin, N. Amer. Ind. (1844), II. lviii. 230. An exotic, with a ‘pale face,’ and from across the ocean.
1863. Cowden Clarke, Shaks. Char., vi. 159. These same exotics are received by our easy, gullible brethren with ‘outstretched arms.’
Hence † Exoticness, exotic or foreign quality.
1631. Weever, Anc. Fun. Mon., 697. The very exoticknesse of the workemanship.
