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gnostic

[ nos-tik ]
/ ˈnɒs tɪk /
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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.
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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

OTHER WORDS FROM gnostic

gnos·ti·cal·ly, adverban·ti·gnos·tic, adjective, nounan·ti·gnos·ti·cal, adjectiveun·gnos·tic, adjective

Words nearby gnostic

gnomon, gnomonic, -gnomy, gnosis, Gnossus, gnostic, Gnosticism, Gnosticize, gnotobiosis, gnotobiote, gnotobiotic

Other definitions for gnostic (2 of 2)

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

Origin of -gnostic

<Medieval Latin -gnōsticus<Greek gnōstikós pertaining to knowledge
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to gnostic

astute, insightful, knowledgeable, penetrating, perceptive, piercing, discerning, discreet, incisive, intuitive, knowing, observant, wise, acute, bright, brilliant, clear-sighted, clever, critical, ingenious

How to use gnostic in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for gnostic (1 of 2)

gnostic

gnostical

/ (ˈnɒstɪk) /
adjective
of, relating to, or possessing knowledge, esp esoteric spiritual knowledge

Derived forms of gnostic

gnostically, adverb

British Dictionary definitions for gnostic (2 of 2)

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
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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