Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Abstruse; pertaining to deep learning: opposed to exoteric.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Communicated orally; oral; -- applied to the esoteric teachings of Aristotle, those intended for his genuine disciples, in distinction from his exoteric doctrines, which were adapted to outsiders or the public generally. Hence: Abstruse; profound.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective abstruse, esoteric
  • adjective oral; intended for listeners; applied to the esoteric teachings of Aristotle, those intended for his genuine disciples, in distinction from his exoteric or public doctrines

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Ancient Greek ἀκροαματικός (akroamatikos, "for hearing only") from ἀκροάομαι (akroaomai, "listen")

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Examples

  • The former -- discursive proofs -- ought to be termed acroamatic proofs, rather than demonstrations, as only words are employed in them, while demonstrations proper, as the term itself indicates, always require a reference to the intuition of the object.

    The Critique of Pure Reason Immanuel Kant 1764

  • "The 5: 01 Session" also offers seasonal and regional beers on tap for $4, as well as an accessible list of 16 wines by the glass for $7 each, featuring acroamatic wines from small, relatively unknown winemakers.

    Examiner California Headlines 2010

  • n. - doctrine denying existence of universe distinct from God. acosmist, acroamatic adj. - esoteric, told only orally. acrocephalic

    xml's Blinklist.com 2008

  • "We, who must be permitted to regard this phenomenon merely as an educational institution, will then inform the inquiring foreigner that what is called 'culture' in our universities merely proceeds from the mouth to the ear, and that every kind of training for culture is, as I said before, merely 'acroamatic.'

    On the Future of our Educational Institutions Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche 1872

Comments

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  • Esoteric, told only orally. (Luciferous Logolepsy)

    May 16, 2008

  • JM likes the progression from matters acroamatic to acroatic matters

    October 26, 2009