a denomination given the disciples or followers of Aristotle, &c. who were admitted into the secrets of the inner or acroamatic philosophy.

ACROATIC. Aristotle's lectures to his disciples were of two kinds, exoteric and acroatic. The acroatic were those to which only his own disciples and intimate friends were admitted; whereas the exoteric were public, and open to all. But there are other differences. The acroatic were set apart for the higher and more abstruse subjects; the exoteric were employed in rhetorical and civil speculations. Again, the acroatics were more subtle and exact, evidence and demonstration being here aimed at; the exoterics chiefly aimed at the probable and plausible. The former were the subject of the mornings exercises in the Lyceum, the latter of the evenings. Add, that the exoterics were published; whereas the acroatics were kept secret; being either entirely concealed; or, if they were published, it was in such obscure terms, that few but his own disciples could be the wiser for them. Hence, when Alexander complained of his preceptor for publishing his acroatics, and thus revealing what should have been referred to his disciples, Aristotle answered, that they were made public and not public; for that none who had not heard them explained by the author vivæ voce, would understand them.