esoterica

[ es-uh-ter-i-kuh ]

plural noun

1. things understood by or meant for a select few; recondite matters or items.
2. curiosa ( def 1 ).

Word History and Origins

Origin of esoterica¹

First recorded in 1925–30; from New Latin esoterica, noun use of Greek neuter plural adjective esōterikós esoteric

Example Sentences

The database includes a search engine that makes it easy to find all manner of esoterica, including what all 46 presidents said about their dads.

From Los Angeles Times

In “Experiences,” the protagonist, Don Jr., spirals in isolation after a move to California, and from his apartment he imagines paranoid adventures in esoterica, in search of truths about power and wealth.

From New York Times

Wave functions, superposition and other esoterica remind me that this is a strange, strange world; there is a mystery at the heart of things that ordinary language can never quite capture.

From Scientific American

That the credited author, Archer Eland, is clearly a pseudonym, deepens the atmosphere of esoterica.

From New York Times

Soon Mellon money was being used not for esoterica but to try to remake the tax system.

From Salon

More About Esoterica

What does esoterica mean?

Esoterica is obscure knowledge or topics that are only understood or intended to be understood by a small number of people, especially those within a certain group.

It can also refer collectively to books and other works that contain such topics. The word is often associated with mysticism and the occult.

The related adjective esoteric is most commonly used to describe obscure topics and matters that are only understood by a small number of people with special (and perhaps secret) knowledge.

In other words, esoterica consists of esoteric knowledge and things filled with esoteric knowledge.

Example: To the uninitiated, this esoterica is impenetrably arcane.

Where does esoterica come from?

The first records of the word esoterica come from the 1920s. It comes from the Greek esōterikos, from esōterō, meaning “inner.”

Esoterica involves things that are only understandable by an inner circle of people, such as those with in-depth knowledge of an obscure subject. When you come across a piece of esoterica, it’s often difficult to understand what any of it means, unless you happen to have the esoteric knowledge needed to comprehend it.

The word exoterica refers to the opposite of esoterica—commonplace knowledge or writings suitable for the general public. Ironically, it’s much less commonly known and used than the word esoterica.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to esoterica?

• esoteric (adjective)

What are some synonyms for esoterica?

• curiosa
• arcanum

What are some words that share a root or word element with esoterica? 

• esotericism
• esoterism
• esotery
• exoterica

What are some words that often get used in discussing esoterica?

• obscure
• writing
• knowledge
• book
• work
• literature
• mysticism
• occult
• secret

How is esoterica used in real life?

The word esoterica is often used in discussion of mystical and occult topics, especially obscure writings about them.

100% went down a Manichean/Gnostic wikipedia rabbit hole for last 10 minutes to try to find some piece of esoterica to capture the symbolic importance of the awakened anti-conaw #roamcult here.

Best I could do was pull up some fallen angels from my Bible Study's collab Roam thou

— Conor White-Sullivan (@Conaw) June 18, 2020

We are Hill of Dust Books, an online bookstore brimming with vintage paperbacks, esoterica, occult oddities, proper novels and non-fiction delicacies. Take a look at our website and see what you can discover…https://t.co/BTAjsMFitN ✨

— Hill of Dust Books (@hillofdustbooks) June 4, 2020

Adam Stafford journeys on down once again into new and old esoterica on the 8th edition of Blood On The Stylus (@on_stylus); featuring 70's Ethiopian Jazz, Wartime Chicago Blues, South Korean Psychedelic Folk and more…https://t.co/nfI3vAb4ek

— totallyradio (@totallyradio) August 13, 2020

 

 

Try using esoterica!

Is esoterica used correctly in the following sentence?

My local independent bookstore has an impressive collection of esoterica—there’s some really far-out stuff in there!