gnosis

¹

[ noh-sis ]

noun

1. knowledge of spiritual matters; mystical knowledge.

-gnosis

²

1. a combining form meaning “knowledge,” used in the formation of compound words:

   prognosis.

-gnosis

¹

combining form

1. (esp in medicine) recognition or knowledge

   diagnosis

   prognosis

gnosis

²

/ ˈnəʊsɪs /

noun

1. supposedly revealed knowledge of various spiritual truths, esp that said to have been possessed by ancient Gnostics

Derived Forms

• -gnostic, combining_form:in_adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gnosis¹

1695–1705; < New Latin < Greek gnṓsis a seeking to know, equivalent to gnō-, base of gignṓskein know ¹ + -sis -sis

Origin of gnosis²

< Latin -gnōsis < Greek; gnosis

Word History and Origins

Origin of gnosis¹

via Latin from Greek: gnosis

Origin of gnosis²

C18: ultimately from Greek: knowledge, from gignōskein to know

Example Sentences

Gnosis was never really “founded,” per se, but forged over time among a group of people who became friends talking over code.

From The Daily Beast

Gnosis now understands how a large website such as Gawker functions.

From The Daily Beast

Nobody else should feel too threatened that Gnosis is out digging around.

From The Daily Beast

“We try to keep our ears open,” said one of the Gnosis members.

From The Daily Beast

Another one of the hackers shared some of the backgrounds of Gnosis group members.

From The Daily Beast

From Gnossus, whence the Greeks drew all their laws and science, came probably the Greek word gnosis, meaning knowledge.

From Project Gutenberg

He evidently feels in a position to give his gnosis with some claim to a deferential hearing.

From Project Gutenberg

The Gnosis of which they profess themselves adherents is a personification, the on and mediator “knowledge of life” (see below).

From Project Gutenberg

The Gnosis is formally a philosophy of revelation, that is a Scripture theology,700 and materially a cosmological speculation.

From Project Gutenberg

This also applies to Origen's Christian Gnosis or scientific dogmatic, which is simply the metaphysics of the age.

From Project Gutenberg

Words That Use -gnosis

What does -gnosis mean?

The combining form -gnosis is used like a suffix meaning “knowledge.” It is occasionally used in scientific and technical terms, especially in medicine.

The form -gnosis comes from Greek gnṓsis, meaning “a seeking to know.”

What are variants of -gnosis?

While -gnosis doesn’t have any variants, it is related to the form -gnostic, which denotes adjectives related to -gnosis, as in diagnostic. Another relative of -gnosis is the form -gnomy, as in physiognomy. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use -gnosis article.

Examples of -gnosis

One example of a word you may be familiar with that uses the form -gnosis is prognosis, “a forecasting of the probable course and outcome of a disease, especially of the chances of recovery.” The word prognosis comes from Greek prógnōsis, which uses the equivalent of -gnosis in that language.

The prefix pro- has a variety of meanings, including “before” or “prior,” from Greek pró. The form -gnosis means “knowledge,” as we have already seen. Prognosis literally translates to “prior knowledge.”

What are some words that use the combining form -gnosis?

• baragnosis
• barognosis
• diagnosis (using the equivalent form of -gnosis in Greek)
• psychognosis
• stegnosis
• topagnosis

What are some other forms that -gnosis may be commonly confused with?

• -gnathous
• -osis
• gnatho-

Break it down!

The combining form psycho- means “psychological.” With this in mind, what does psychognosis literally mean?