E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Esoter’ic (Greek, those within).
Exoter’ic, those without. The term originated with Pythag’oras, who stood behind a curtain when he gave his lectures. Those who were allowed to attend the lectures, but not to see his face, he called his exoteric disciples; but those who were allowed to enter the veil, his esoteric.
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Aristotle adopted the same terms, though he did not lecture behind a curtain. He called those who attended his evening lectures, which were of a popular character, his exoterics; and those who attended his more abstruse morning lectures, his esoterics.
