Esoteric vs. Archaic — What's the Difference?

Intended for or understood by only a small group, especially one with specialized knowledge or interests

Also Archaic Relating to, being, or characteristic of a much earlier, often more primitive period, especially one that develops into a classical stage of civilization

Relating to or being a small group with specialized knowledge or interests

No longer current or applicable; antiquated

Not known by or suitable for the public; private

Relating to, being, or characteristic of words and language that were once in regular use but are now relatively rare and suggestive of an earlier style or period.

One that is esoteric.

Relating to or being an early or premodern evolutionary form of an organism or group of organisms

Esoterics Esoteric matters; esoterica

Relating to or being an early form of Homo sapiens or a closely related species, such as Neanderthal, that is anatomically distinct from modern humans.

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.

Archaic Relating to a Native American culture prevalent throughout much of North America from about 8000 BC to about 1000 BC, characterized especially by the development of Mesolithic tools and by the increased reliance on smaller game animals as the large Pleistocene mammals became extinct.

Having to do with concepts that are highly theoretical and without obvious practical application; often with mystical or religious connotations.

A member of an archaic population of Homo.

Confidential; private.

A general term for the prehistoric period intermediate between the earliest period (‘[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paleo-Indian Paleo-Indian]’, ‘Paleo-American’, ‘American‐paleolithic’, &c.) of human presence in the Western Hemisphere, and the most recent prehistoric period (‘Woodland’, etc.).

An esoteric doctrine or treatise; esoteric philosophy.

(paleoanthropology) (A member of) an archaic variety of Homo sapiens.

One who believes, or is an initiate, in esoteric doctrines or rites.

Of or characterized by antiquity; old-fashioned, quaint, antiquated.

Designed for, and understood by, the specially initiated alone; not communicated, or not intelligible, to the general body of followers; private; interior; acroamatic; - said of discussions of technical topics and of the private and more recondite instructions and doctrines of philosophers. Opposed to exoteric.

(of words) No longer in ordinary use, though still used occasionally to give a sense of antiquity and are still likely to be understood by well-educated speakers and are found in historical texts.

Marked by secrecy or privacy; private; select; confidential; as, an esoteric purpose; an esoteric meeting.

(archaeology) Belonging to the archaic period

An esoteric doctrine or treatise; esoteric philosophy; esoterics.

Of or characterized by antiquity or archaism; antiquated; obsolescent.

Confined to and understandable by only an enlightened inner circle;

So extremely old as seeming to belong to an earlier period;

Little evolved from or characteristic of an earlier ancestral type;