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

   prognosis

   diagnosis

gnosis

²

/ ˈnəʊsɪs /

noun

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

Other Word Forms

• -gnostic combining form

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

Interspersed with Jafarieh’s musings about intention, gratitude and the “gnosis of self,” Djokovic delivers a unique moment of introspection about his journeys as a tennis player and a person.

Read more on New York Times

Rather, it is about how a spiritual sensibility can create space for vital ambiguity, contemplation and gnosis — knowledge of the heart — particularly in the face of that omnipresent human experience, suffering.

Read more on Washington Post

The Greek word for knowledge is gnosis, but there is another word, epignosis, which denotes “a greater participation by the knower in the object known”.

Read more on The Guardian

“We do not demand faith, we offer gnosis,” he began, reading from a MacBook.

Read more on The New Yorker

The Epistles of Paul, both genuine and spurious, recognize the gnosis, and there were Gnostic sects, as well as individual Gnostics, both before and after the Christian era.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

When To Use

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.