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View synonyms for gnostic

gnostic

1

[ nos-tik ]

adjective

  1. pertaining to knowledge.
  2. possessing knowledge, especially esoteric knowledge of spiritual matters.
  3. (initial capital letter) pertaining to or characteristic of the Gnostics.


noun

  1. (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.

-gnostic

2
  1. a combination of -gnosis and -ic, used to form adjectives from stems ending in -gnosis:

    prognostic.

Gnostic

1

/ ˈnɒstɪk /

noun

  1. an adherent of Gnosticism
“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


adjective

  1. of or relating to Gnostics or to Gnosticism
“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

gnostic

2

/ ˈnɒstɪk /

adjective

  1. of, relating to, or possessing knowledge, esp esoteric spiritual knowledge
“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
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Derived Forms

  • ˈgnostically, adverb
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Other Words From

  • gnosti·cal·ly adverb
  • anti·gnostic adjective noun
  • anti·gnosti·cal adjective
  • un·gnostic adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of gnostic1

1555–65; < Late Latin Gnōsticī (plural) name of the sect < Greek gnōstikós (singular) pertaining to knowledge, equivalent to gnōst ( ós ) known + -ikos -ic

Origin of gnostic2

< Medieval Latin -gnōsticus < Greek gnōstikós pertaining to knowledge
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Word History and Origins

Origin of gnostic1

C16: from Late Latin Gnosticī the Gnostics, from Greek gnōstikos relating to knowledge, from gnōstos known, from gignōskein to know
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Example Sentences

We also have the Gnostic Gospels, discovered in 1947 and adding a wealth of insights into early Christian thinking.

I have been unable to discover any gnostic gem with anything like a modern dragon on it.

He says these scandalous figures resemble those in the Gnostic churches.

Hence, on the other hand, the wild rebound into licentiousness which has sometimes characterized Gnostic or Manichaean sects.

The real root of the difficulty to Platonist as to Gnostic was his sharp antithesis of form as good and matter as evil.

This idea was undoubtedly suggested to him by the threefold division of mankind according to the Gnostic p. 265system.

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