† acroaticsn.

1670 T. Gale Court of Gentiles: Pt. II iv. i. 367 His Acroaticks contain his more subtile Philosophie namely his Physicks, and Logick Disceptations.

1755 W. Warburton Divine Legation Moses (ed. 4) II. iii. ii. 95 In the communication of their acroatics or arcane opinions, the philosophers were as cautious as the teachers of the mysteries were in theirs.

1841 R. W. Hamilton Nugæ Lit. 483 We might be reminded of the manner in which Aristotle, after the publication of his Acroatics, or more difficult parts of his philosophy, replied to Alexander, who reproached him for it, ‘Though published, none can understand it without my explanations.’

1898 Ars Quatuor Coronatorum 11 77 I am satisfied that that legend was part of our acroatics at least as early as the day when first a scribe hesitated to write in the Constitutions a name which he might have read in any Bible, and left a blank space.