gnostic
[ nos-tik ]
/ ˈnɒs tɪk /
adjective Also gnos·ti·cal.
pertaining to knowledge.
possessing knowledge, especially esoteric knowledge of spiritual matters.
(initial capital letter) pertaining to or characteristic of the Gnostics.
noun
(initial capital letter) a member of any of certain sects among the early Christians who claimed to have superior knowledge of spiritual matters, and explained the world as created by powers or agencies arising as emanations from the Godhead.
RELATED WORDS
knowing, penetrating, wise, intuitive, incisive, observant, knowledgeable, discerning, discreet, astute, insightful, piercing, perceptive, acute, awake, aware, brainy, conscious, judicious, keen
Nearby words
- gnomon,
- gnomonic,
- gnosia,
- gnosis,
- gnossus,
- gnosticism,
- gnosticize,
- gnotobiology,
- gnotobiosis,
- gnotobiota
Origin of gnostic
1555–65; < Late Latin Gnōsticī (plural) name of the sect < Greek gnōstikós (singular) pertaining to knowledge, equivalent to gnōst(ós) known + -ikos -ic
-gnostic
Origin of -gnostic
< Medieval Latin -gnōsticus < Greek gnōstikós pertaining to knowledge
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for gnostic
gnostic
gnostical
/ (ˈnɒstɪk) /
adjective
of, relating to, or possessing knowledge, esp esoteric spiritual knowledge
Gnostic
/ (ˈnɒstɪk) /
noun
an adherent of Gnosticism
adjective
of or relating to Gnostics or to Gnosticism
Word Origin for Gnostic
C16: from Late Latin Gnosticī the Gnostics, from Greek gnōstikos relating to knowledge, from gnōstos known, from gignōskein to know
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