English
esoteric
Esoteric comes from Ancient Greek ἐσωτερικός ‘belonging to an inner circle’.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἐσωτερικόςesōterikós‘belonging to an inner circle’
- Englishearliest quotation 1975esoteric
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἐσωτερικόςesōterikós‘belonging to an inner circle’
- Englishearliest quotation 1975esoteric
Earliest quotation: 1975, Lucy S. Dawidowicz: “In this situation Hitler availed himself of a time-honored…”
The story
Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek ἐσωτερικός (esōterikós, “belonging to an inner circle”), from ἐσωτέρω (esōtérō, “further inside”), comparative of ἔσω (ésō, “within”), from ἐς (es), εἰς (eis, “into”) (the term esoteric referred originally to the secret teachings of Greek philosophers, versus public or exoteric ones).
Every English word from Ancient Greek ἐσωτερικός
Today it means
adj Intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest, or an enlightened inner circle.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek ἐσωτερικός / esoteric