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cosmogony

American  
[koz-mog-uh-nee] / kɒzˈmɒg ə ni /

noun

  • cosmogonies
    plural
  1. a theory or story of the origin and development of the universe, the solar system, or the earth-moon system.


cosmogony British  
/ kɒzˈmɒɡənɪ /

noun

  1. the study of the origin and development of the universe or of a particular system in the universe, such as the solar system

  2. a theory of such an origin or evolution

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

cosmogony Scientific  
/ kŏz-mŏgə-nē /
  1. The branch of cosmology that studies the origin of the universe and the larger objects found within it, such as the solar system.


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Etymology

Origin of cosmogony

First recorded in 1860–65, cosmogony is from the Greek word kosmogonía creation of the world. See cosmo-, -gony

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Vocabulary lists containing cosmogony

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

If there is no testable means of determining which creation cosmogony is correct, perhaps they are all astounding science fictions.

From Scientific American Oct. 20, 2011

He threw in a few references to physics, anthropology, cosmogony and medicine.

From Time Magazine Archive

He is easily supreme in the cosmogony of his enchantments.

From Aspects and Impressions by Edmund Gosse

In the course of Mrs. Rossiter's confidences I began to see a vast cosmogony beyond my own personal sun, with J. Howard Brokenshire as the pivot of the new universe.

From The High Heart by Basil King

It must be admitted that, in the few meagre and imperfect accounts which we have of the notions of cosmogony entertained by the American nations, we have no distinct allusion to it.

From Ophiolatreia An Account of the Rites and Mysteries Connected with the Origin, Rise, and Development of Serpent Worship in Various Parts of the World by Anonymous

Whole cosmogonies will be created out of some forgotten personal resentment, complete epics written in private languages, the daubs of schoolchildren ranked above the greatest masterpieces.

From Time Magazine Archive

On the other hand it is in striking contrast to the other cosmogonies which have been handed down from pre-scientific ages.

From The Expositor's Bible: The Book of Genesis by Marcus Dods

Babylonian and Israelitish.—Of the Babylonian and Israelitish cosmogonies we have several more or less complete records.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 4 "Coquelin" to "Costume" by Various

Schirren16 regarded the New Zealand cosmogonies as myths of sunrise, and the deluge-stories as myths of sunset.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 10 "David, St" to "Demidov" by Various

Humboldt found some analogy between the Aztec theory of the universe, as taught by the priests, and the Asiatic "cosmogonies."

From The Story of Extinct Civilizations of the West by Robert Edward Anderson

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