In the following question, out of the given four alternatives, select the one which best expresses the meaning of the given word in context: "Esoteric".

Introduction / Context:
This vocabulary question asks you to choose the synonym of the word "Esoteric." Such questions are common in competitive exams to test how well you understand high level English words often used in academic reading, philosophy, or advanced discussions. "Esoteric" is generally used to describe knowledge or ideas that are known or understood by only a small, specialised group of people.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Target word: "Esoteric."
• Options: Befitting, Germane, Abstruse, Relevant.
• No context sentence is provided, so we rely on standard dictionary meanings.
• We assume the exam is testing the typical sense of "esoteric" as difficult and specialised.

Concept / Approach:
"Esoteric" usually means something that is intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a special knowledge or interest. Another word that captures this idea of being hard to understand and highly specialised is "abstruse." "Abstruse" means difficult to understand; obscure, complex, or deep. This semantic overlap makes "Abstruse" the best synonym among the given options.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the meaning of "Esoteric": secretive, specialised, or intended for a small, knowledgeable audience; often hard for general people to understand. Step 2: Check "Abstruse." It means difficult to comprehend, obscure, or not easily grasped by most people. Step 3: Note the overlap: both "esoteric" and "abstruse" suggest complexity and limited accessibility to the general public. Step 4: Examine the remaining options to ensure none express this core meaning better. Step 5: Confirm "Abstruse" as the best synonym.

Verification / Alternative check:
Imagine a sentence: "The professor's lecture on quantum field theory was highly esoteric." Replacing "esoteric" with "abstruse" gives: "The professor's lecture on quantum field theory was highly abstruse." Both sentences convey that the lecture was very hard to understand and accessible only to specialists, which supports the choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A: "Befitting" means appropriate, suitable, or proper for someone or something. It does not convey the idea of difficulty or specialised knowledge. Option B: "Germane" means relevant or closely connected to what is being discussed. This only indicates relevance, not complexity or exclusivity. Option D: "Relevant" has a similar meaning to "germane" and simply indicates that something is related to the topic. Again, there is no sense of difficulty or specialisation.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates confuse "esoteric" with words that express "suitable" or "appropriate" because they remember it as something "fitting a small group." But the key nuance is not suitability; it is obscurity and specialised difficulty. A helpful memory trick is to link "esoteric" with "hard to enter" (hard to get into intellectually). Whenever you see "esoteric," think of complex or technically deep content, which leads you towards "abstruse."

Final Answer:
The word that best expresses the meaning of "Esoteric" is: Abstruse.