esoterica

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.

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.

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

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

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!