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• gnostic
  gnostic

  adjective

  pertaining to knowledge.
• -gnostic
  -gnostic

  a combination of -gnosis and -ic, used to form adjectives from stems ending in -gnosis:
• Gnostic
  Gnostic

  noun

  an adherent of Gnosticism

gnostic

¹ American  

[nos-tik] / ˈnɒs tɪk /

adjective

1. pertaining to knowledge.

2. possessing knowledge, especially esoteric knowledge of spiritual matters.

3. (initial capital letter) pertaining to or characteristic of the Gnostics.

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noun

1. (initial capital letter) a member of any of certain sects among the early Christians who claimed to have superior knowledge of spiritual matters, and explained the world as created by powers or agencies arising as emanations from the Godhead.

-gnostic ² American  

1. a combination of -gnosis and -ic, used to form adjectives from stems ending in -gnosis:

   prognostic.

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Gnostic ¹ British  

/ ˈnɒstɪk /

noun

1. an adherent of Gnosticism

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adjective

1. of or relating to Gnostics or to Gnosticism

gnostic ² British  

/ ˈnɒstɪk /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or possessing knowledge, esp esoteric spiritual knowledge

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Usage

What does -gnostic mean? The combining form -gnostic is used like a suffix meaning “of or relating to knowledge.” It is occasionally used in scientific and technical terms, especially in medicine. The form -gnostic is a combination of two forms. The first is -gnosis, from Greek gnṓsis, meaning “a seeking to know.” The second is the suffix -ic, from Greek -ikos, which denotes adjectives. What are variants of -gnostic?While -gnostic doesn't have any variants, it is related to the forms -gnosis, as in diagnosis, and -gnomy, as in physiognomy. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use articles on -gnosis and -gnomy.

Other Word Forms

• antignostic
  adjective
• antignostical
  adjective
• gnostically
  adverb
• ungnostic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of gnostic¹

1555–65; < Late Latin Gnōsticī (plural) name of the sect < Greek gnōstikós (singular) pertaining to knowledge, equivalent to gnōst ( ós ) known + -ikos -ic

Origin of -gnostic²

< Medieval Latin -gnōsticus < Greek gnōstikós pertaining to knowledge

Explanation

The adjective gnostic describes something related to mysterious intellectual or spiritual knowledge. That gnostic text you've been trying to read is mystical and a little bit obscure. The word gnostic comes from the Greek word gnostikos, meaning "knowing" or "able to discern." If the word has a capital "G" — Gnostic — it describes something related to Gnosticism, a form of nonconventional mystical Christianity that emerged in the 2nd century and is still considered heretical by many Christians. Used more broadly gnostic can describe something that has mystical knowledge, especially related to spirituality.

Related Words

• astute
• discerning
• discreet
• incisive
• insightful
• intuitive
• knowing
• knowledgeable
• observant
• penetrating
• wise