esotericismn.
/ɛsə(ʊ)ˈtɛrɪsɪz(ə)m//iːsə(ʊ)ˈtɛrɪsɪz(ə)m/ = esoterism n. Also, a tendency toward esoteric thought or language, obscurity; an example of such thought or language.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > a profound secret, mystery > [noun] > secret doctrine or art > adherence to
esoterism1835
esotericism1846
1846 J. E. Worcester Universal Dict. Eng. Lang. (citing Chr. Observer). Hence in later Dicts.
1885 Mrs. H. Ward tr. H.-F. Amiel Jrnl. II. 315 Yes, but still a certain esotericism [Fr. ésotérisme] is inevitable, since critical, scientific, and philosophical culture is only attainable by a minority.
1923 J. M. Murry Pencillings 1 One of the most peculiar features of literature during the last thirty or forty years has been the steady movement of a part of it towards esotericism.
1955 Ess. in Crit. 5 421 Yeats's intellectual esotericisms (such as the phrase ‘perne in a gyre’ in Sailing to Byzantium).
1963 Times 14 Mar. 16/2 It is still possible to write..without code words or esotericism.
Derivatives
esoˈtericist n. one who holds esoteric doctrines.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > aspects of faith > doctrine > [noun] > adherent of esoteric
esotericist1891
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > a profound secret, mystery > [noun] > secret doctrine or art > adherence to > one who holds
esotericist1891
1891 Rev. of Reviews 15 June 522/2 She [sc. Madame Blavatsky] made all her ‘esotericists’, as she called them, send her their photographs.
1892 Church Times 1 Apr. 337/1 Further on the esotericist is identified with the Rationalist.
1954 W. Y. Evans-Wentz Tibetan Bk. Great Liberation 33 The Christian exotericists, derived largely from uncultured slave populations, inaugurated a religious revolution against the Christian esotericists, the cultured and well-born followers of the Gnosis.
ˈesoterist n. ( Funk's Stand. Dict. 1893).
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1972; most recently modified version published online September 2021).
<
n.1846