cosmogony

[ koz-mog-uh-nee ]

/ kɒzˈmɒg ə ni /

noun, plural cos·mog·o·nies.

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

Nearby words

Origin of cosmogony

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

Related formscos·mog·o·nal, cos·mo·gon·ic

[koz-muh-gon-ik] /ˌkɒz məˈgɒn ɪk/, cos·mo·gon·i·cal, adjectivecos·mog·o·nist, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for cosmogony

Though the author is influenced by Jewish cosmogony, his system, as such, is almost purely Neo-Platonic.
Library Of The World's Best Literature, Ancient And Modern, Vol 3|Various
The general outcome of Mr. Darwin's researches has been to leave Laplace's cosmogony untouched.
A Popular History of Astronomy During the Nineteenth Century|Agnes M. (Agnes Mary) Clerke
He uses strange tools in His cosmogony: but He does not use them in vain.
Literary and General Lectures and Essays|Charles Kingsley
And now Lucretius shall describe the formation of the different parts of the world according to the cosmogony of Epicurus.
Christianity and Greek Philosophy|Benjamin Franklin Cocker

He wished to exclude religion from the field of cosmogony, and forbid it to intrude on the region of knowledge.
Nineteenth Century Questions|James Freeman Clarke

British Dictionary definitions for cosmogony

cosmogony

/ (kɒzˈmɒɡənɪ) /

noun plural -nies

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

a theory of such an origin or evolution

Derived Formscosmogonal, adjectivecosmogonic (ˌkɒzməˈɡɒnɪk) or cosmogonical, adjectivecosmogonist, noun

Word Origin for cosmogony

C17: from Greek kosmogonia, from cosmo- + gonos creation

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

Word Origin and History for cosmogony

cosmogony

1690s as "a theory of the creation;" 1766 as "the creation of the universe," from Latinized form of Greek kosmogonia "creation of the world," from kosmos "world, universe" (see cosmos) + -gonia "a begetting."

Science definitions for cosmogony

cosmogony

[ kŏz-mŏg′ə-nē ]

The branch of cosmology that studies the origin of the universe and the larger objects found within it, such as the solar system.