Dictionary.com

gnostic

[ nos-tik ]
/ ˈnɒs tɪk /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR gnostic ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

QUIZZES

FOR LEXICAL ALIMENTATION, TAKE THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

Nourish your vocabulary with a refresher on the words from the week of September 14–20, 2020!
Question 1 of 7
What does “blatherskite” mean?
a person given to voluble, empty talk.
an ancient Greek or Roman farce that depended for effect largely upon ludicrous actions and gestures.
a check whose amount has been raised by forgery before cashing.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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

gnomonic, -gnomy, gnosia, gnosis, Gnossus, gnostic, Gnosticism, Gnosticize, gnotobiology, gnotobiosis, gnotobiota

Definition 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. 2020

Words related to gnostic

knowing, penetrating, wise, intuitive, incisive, observant, knowledgeable, discerning, discreet, astute, insightful, piercing, perceptive, acute, awake, aware, brainy, conscious, judicious, keen

Example sentences from the Web for gnostic

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