exoteric adjective & noun. [ɛksǝ(ʊ)'tɛrɪk] M17.
[Latin exotericus from Greek exōterikos, from exōterō outer, compar. of exō outside: see -IC.]
A. adjective.
1. (Of a philosophical doctrine, mode of speech, etc.) designed for or intelligible to outsiders; (of a disciple) not admitted to esoteric teaching; dealing with ordinary topics. Opp. ESOTERIC adjective 1. M17.
Times Literary Supplement A market surely exists for an exoteric study of Wittgenstein's notoriously recondite ideas.
b. Current among the general public; popular; ordinary. E19.
2. Pertaining to the outside; external. Now rare. M17.
B. noun.
1. An uninitiated person; an outsider. L17.
2. In pl. Exoteric doctrines or treatises. M18.

■ exoterical adjective M17.

■ exoterically adverb M18.

■ exotericism [-sɪz(ǝ)m] noun (belief in) exoteric doctrines L19.

■ exotericist [-sɪst] noun a person who believes in exoteric doctrines M20.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲