gnosis

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.

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-

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