- 1深奧的、只有內行人才懂的
Esoteric describes knowledge, talk, or hobbies that only a small inner group really understands. The word comes from old Greek teaching: some lessons were for the public, and some were for the people already inside the school. The public kind is exoteric; the inner kind is esoteric. Today we stretch it. A research paper can be esoteric. A tiny music style can be esoteric. Though actually, people also use it a bit loosely just to mean “weird and hard,” even when there is no real inner circle — that use is common, but a little sloppy. The word feels educated. If you call someone’s interest esoteric, you may sound , or you may sound as if you are shutting them out; tone does the work.
From the word’s history
From Greek ἐσωτερικός 'of an inner circle', first of philosophers' secret teachings.
希臘文 ἐσωτερικός「屬於內圈的」，原指哲學家只傳弟子的祕密教義。
組成Borrowed from Greek esōterikós, “belonging to an inner circle,” from esō, “within / inside.” It first named secret school teachings, as against public (exoteric) ones.
同家族的字
- exotericthe old pair-word: public, outer teaching, as against inner/esoteric teaching
- esotericismesoteric + -ism: inner or hidden systems of knowledge
- esotericathings known only to a small group; the noun pile of esoteric stuff
- esotericallythe adverb: in an esoteric way
原始詞典資料5 筆記錄
以下是外部詞典記錄的用法，摘錄並精簡格式，我們還沒有寫成教學內容。上面的說明才是我們自己寫的；有些用法可能上面已經講過了。
esotericadj/ˌiː.səʊˈtɛɹ.ɪk/
- 1
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.
- The writing in this manual is very esoteric; I’d need a degree in engineering just to understand it!
- In this situation Hitler availed himself of a time-honored device-the use of esoteric language. In all periods of history, when government or society has put limits on public discussion, those who wish to circumvent censorship resort to the use of esoteric language. Exoterically understood, the text is unexceptionable, but to the insiders who know how to interpret the words, the message is revolutionary and dangerous to the status quo.
- 2
Having to do with concepts that are highly theoretical and without obvious practical application; often with mystical or religious connotations.
- When he spoke to me of esoteric mysteries I wanted to say to him,"Don't give me that spiritual hokum, friend!"
- 3
Confidential; private.
- an esoteric purpose
- an esoteric meeting
esotericnoun/ˌiː.səʊˈtɛɹ.ɪk/
- 1
An esoteric doctrine or treatise; esoteric philosophy.
- 2
One who believes, or is an initiate, in esoteric doctrines or rites.
摘錄自 英文維基詞典 English Wiktionary，已精簡格式；依 CC BY-SA 4.0 授權使用，改動後的內容同樣以此授權提供。