gnosis

[noh-sis]

noun

knowledge of spiritual matters; mystical knowledge.

Origin of gnosis

1695–1705; < New Latin < Greek gnṓsis a seeking to know, equivalent to gnō-, base of gignṓskein know¹ + -sis -sis

-gnosis

a combining form meaning “knowledge,” used in the formation of compound words: prognosis.

Origin of -gnosis

< Latin -gnōsis < Greek; see gnosis

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for gnosis

Contemporary Examples of gnosis

Gnosis was never really “founded,” per se, but forged over time among a group of people who became friends talking over code.
The Hackers Who Broke Gawker
Brian Ries
December 15, 2010
Gnosis now understands how a large website such as Gawker functions.
The Hackers Who Broke Gawker
Brian Ries
December 15, 2010
Nobody else should feel too threatened that Gnosis is out digging around.
The Hackers Who Broke Gawker
Brian Ries
December 15, 2010
“We try to keep our ears open,” said one of the Gnosis members.
The Hackers Who Broke Gawker
Brian Ries
December 15, 2010
Another one of the hackers shared some of the backgrounds of Gnosis group members.
New Gawker Security Breach
Brian Ries
December 14, 2010

Historical Examples of gnosis

They are interdependent, and rule the ancient order of gnosis and praxis.
Mountain Meditations
L. Lind-af-Hageby
Let us bless heaven that the patriarch of the Gnosis has selected the former.
Devil-Worship in France
Arthur Edward Waite
We alone are initiated into the mysteries of the Gnosis and of the divine Plenum.
The Death of the Gods
Dmitri Mrejkowski
From the acceptance of that story there proceeds a new knowledge, a gnosis.
The Origin of Paul's Religion
J. Gresham Machen
But that which is necessary in order that it may be received is not "gnosis" or an initiation.
The Origin of Paul's Religion
J. Gresham Machen

British Dictionary definitions for gnosis

gnosis

noun plural -ses (-siːz)

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

Word Origin for gnosis

C18: ultimately from Greek: knowledge, from gignōskein to know

-gnosis

n combining form

(esp in medicine) recognition or knowledgeprognosis; diagnosis

Derived Forms-gnostic, adj combining form

Word Origin for -gnosis

via Latin from Greek: gnosis

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 gnosis

"special knowledge of spiritual mysteries," 1703, from Greek gnosis "investigation, knowledge," in Christian writers, "higher knowledge of spiritual things" (see gnostic (adj.)).