‘Esoteric’ NYT Mini Crossword clue Aug. 16 answer and hints

I’m not often completely perplexed by an NYT crossword clue, but today’s “esoteric” clue was about as challenging as word games get. This clue’s from the Aug. 16 NYT Mini Crossword puzzle, and if you don’t know what esoteric means and you’re as stumped as I was, use the hints (and answer) below to help.

‘Esoteric’ NYT Mini Crossword clue Aug. 16 hints and answer

• Hint 1: It starts with an “A.”
• Hint 2: It contains three vowels.
• Hint 3: It rhymes with mundane.
• Hint 4: It’s also the name of a hit League of Legends Netflix series.

The answer to the “Esoteric” clue is “ARCANE.” Esoteric is an older word used to describe knowledge restricted to a small group or is support to be understood or designed for the specially initiated. Arcane, which is a synonym of esoteric, means something that’s known only by a few people and is often shrouded in mystery. At least after today, we have two more interesting words to add to our vocabulary.

NYT Aug. 16 Mini Crossword puzzle: All clues and answers

Across

• 1A Senegal’s neighbor to the east — MALI
• 5A ___ Allen White, star of TV’s “The Bear” — JEREMY
• 7A Make a getaway — ESCAPE
• 8A What’s longer in the morning and evening than it is at noon — SHADOWS
• 9A Voices below altos — TENORS
• 10A  No longer in the Drafts folder — SENT

Down

• 1D Interlocks (with) — MESHES
• 2D Esoteric — ARCANE
• 3D Give false hope to — LEAD ON
• 4D Ship into the country — IMPORT
• 5D “Surely you___!” — JEST
• 6D Coniferous trees with red berries — YEWS

Difficulty of the NYT crossword clue ‘Esoteric’

This was definitely one I needed to solve the entire puzzle just to figure out. Even then, I didn’t really understand how “arcane” fit because I didn’t know what esoteric meant—until I looked up both words. If you were just as confused as I was, this clue would have been impossible; I’d rate it with a five out of five in difficulty.

Best puzzles to play after the NYT Mini Crossword

If you’ve finished the Aug. 16 NYT Mini Crossword puzzle, why not try the mini crosswords from the LA Times and the Washington Post? Or, if you’d like to try something different, try the NYT’s word games, Strands, or Spelling Bee.