Erudite vs Esoteric - What's the difference?
erudite | esoteric |
Learned, scholarly, with emphasis on knowledge gained from books.
* 1850 , , Ch. XII:
* 1913 , , The Custom of the Country , ch. 43:
* 2006 , Jeff Israely, "
intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest, or an enlightened inner circle.
Having to do with concepts that are highly theoretical and without obvious practical application; often with mystical or religious connotations.
Confidential; private.
As adjectives the difference between erudite and esoteric
is that erudite is learned, scholarly, with emphasis on knowledge gained from books while esoteric is intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest, or an enlightened inner circle.erudite
English
Adjective
(en adjective)- At all events, if it involved any secret information in regard to old Roger Chillingworth, it was in a tongue unknown to the erudite clergyman, and did but increase the bewilderment of his mind.
- Elmer Moffatt had been magnificent, rolling out his alternating effects of humour and pathos, stirring his audience by moving references to the Blue and the Gray, convulsing them by a new version of Washington and the Cherry Tree . . ., dazzling them by his erudite allusions and apt quotations.
Preaching Controversy," Time , 17 Sept.:
- Perhaps his erudite mind does not quite yet grasp how to transform his beloved scholarly explorations into effective papal politics.
Synonyms
* See alsoesoteric
English
Adjective
(en adjective)- ''The writing in this manual is very esoteric ; I need a degree in engineering just to understand it!