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

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.