a. and sb. [ad. Gr. ἀκροαματικός adj., f. ἀκρόᾱμα. See ACROAMA.]
A. adj. Of or pertaining to hearing; hence, privately communicated by oral teaching to chosen disciples only; esoteric, secret.
1632. T. Randolph, Jealous Lovers, IV. (1652), 64. Noyse That with obstreperous cadence cracks the organs Acromatick.
a. 1656. J. Hales, Gold. Rem., John xviii. 36, 148. Beloved, we read no Acroamatick lectures; the secrets of the Court of Heaven … lie open alike to all.
1656. Blount, Glossogr., Acromatick, that hearkens or gives ear to anything, that requires much study and search; also musical, harmonious, or delightful to the ear.
1770. Langhorne, Plutarch’s Lives, II. 716/1 (1879). You did wrong in publishing the acroamatic parts of science.
1819. Rees, Cycl., s.v. Books, Acroamatic Books—Books containing some secret and sublime matters, calculated for adepts and proficients on the subject.
B. sb. pl. [The adj. used ellipt. after Gr. τὰ ἀκροαματικά = acroamatic (matters).] Aristotle’s lectures to intimate friends and scholars on the esoteric parts of his philosophy.
1660. Howell, Lex. Tetragl., The Peripatetic in his Acroamatiques, the Egyptians in their Hieroglyphics … involve the choicest of their Knowledge (though obscurely).
1678. Cudworth, Intell. Syst., 314. The Egyptians, besides their vulgar and fabulous theology … had another arcane and recondite theology; these two theologies of theirs differing as Aristotle’s Exotericks and Acroamaticks.
