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VERBAL ADVANTAGE
Challenging synonyms of abstruse include inscrutable (word 48 of Level
3), esoteric (word 29 of Level 5), and also occult, cryptic, enigmatic, arcane,
recondite, and acroamatic.
Let's take a closer look at some of those rather abstruse synonyms,,all of
which apply to things that are secret and mysterious or difficult to understand.
By derivation esoteric (ES-uh-TER-ik) means understood by a select group,
intended only for the knowledge of a few; hence, secret, confidential, or beyond
most people's knowledge or understanding.
Occult (uh-KUHLT, first syllable like a in ago) by derivation means hidden
or concealed. Today occult may be used either of that which is secret because
it is hidden from view or of that which is secret because it is mysterious or incomprehensible.
Cryptic (KRIP-tik) comes from the Greek kryptos, hidden, which comes
in turn from the verb kryptein, to hide. The familiar word crypt comes from
the same source and means a burial chamber hidden underground. In modern usage cryptic applies to that which has a hidden meaning: cryptic ideas
are mystifying ideas; a cryptic message is an incomprehensible or coded
message.
The noun enigma (i-NIG-muh) and the adjective enigmatic (EN-ig-MAT-ik)
come from a Greek verb meaning "to speak in riddles." An enigma is something or someone like a riddle, a mystery, puzzle. Enigmatic means like an
enigma, and therefore perplexing, puzzling, ambiguous, or incomprehensible.
Enigmatic is perhaps most often used of something written or stated, but the
word may also apply to actions and to people.
Arcane (ahr-KAYN) comes from the Latin arcana, meaning "shut, closed,"
or "secret," and ultimately from area, a box or chest, especially a money chest.
By derivation arcane means shut or closed up, and, like esoteric, arcane is
now used of that which is known only to a few people. The word usually applies to knowledge or information, as an arcane theory.
Recondite (REK-un-dyt) comes from the Latin recondere, to put away,
conceal. In modern usage recondite applies to that which is beyond the grasp
of the ordinary person. To most people, for example, particle physics is a recondite subject.
Acroamatic (AK-roh-uh-MAT-ik) is an abstruse and unusual synonym of
esoteric—so unusual that you won't find it listed in most dictionaries.
Historically, acroamatic applies to certain writings by the ancient Greek
philosopher Aristotle (AR-i-STAHT-'l) that were addressed to his disciples as
opposed to his exoteric (EKS-uh-TER-ik) writings, which were intended for a
popular audience. Acroamatic comes from the Greek akroamatikos, which
means "designed for hearing only." According to the encyclopedic Centur/
Dictionary (1914), Artistotle's acroamatic writings "were addressed to 'hear-
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ers,' that is, were intended to be read to his disciples or were notes written
down after his lectures." In a general sense, acroamatic may refer to that which
is esoteric, intended for and understood by a select group, recondite, beyond
the grasp of the average person, and abstruse, extremely hard to understand.
By derivation abstruse means put or pushed away, and today the word
connotes that which has been pushed out of the realm of comprehension.
Scholars and scientists are fond of using abstruse academic jargon to discuss
abstruse subjects and ideas. If you buy a computer, the user's manual probably will be so abstruse that you'll wind up having to call the customer service
hotline for help.
Word 6: EDIFY (ED-i-fy)
To instruct, improve, teach, enlighten; especially, to instruct or improve intellectually, morally, or spiritually.
Anything that improves the mind, the character, or the spirit can be described as edifying, if you find an experience instructive, eye-opening, or uplifting, you can say that it edified you or that you found it edifying. You can be edited by a movie, a play, a book, a conversation, by traveling, or by working on
an interesting project. As I noted in the first half of the program, if you want to
'earn more about the world and learn more words, then reading is the best way
io edify yourself. But even entertainment can be edifying, although some forms
of entertainment, such as watching reruns of "Wheel of Fortune," probably
won't edify you at all.
The corresponding noun is edification, which means enlightenment—intellectual, moral, or spiritual improvement: "Public libraries exist for the benefit and
edification of all people"; "He was a philanthropist devoted not only to the material betterment of less fortunate members of society but also to their edification."
Except when used humorously, the phrase "for your edification" should
probably be avoided. It has become a cliche, and often has a condescending
overtone.
Word 7: SUPERCILIOUS (soo-pur-siL-ee-us)
Haughty, proud, scornful, contemptuous, disdainful.
Supercilious comes from the Latin super-, meaning "over, above," and cilhim, eyebrow; by derivation it means with raised eyebrows, and therefore
proud, haughty, disdainful. Supercilious suggests the proud, contemptuous attitude or expression of someone who thinks he's superior and who looks down