nescience

American  

[nesh-uhns, nesh-ee-uhns, nes-ee-] / ˈnɛʃ əns, ˈnɛʃ i əns, ˈnɛs i- /

noun

1. lack of knowledge; ignorance.

2. agnosticism.

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nescience British  

/ ˈnɛsɪəns /

noun

1. a formal or literary word for ignorance

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Other Word Forms

• nescient
  adjective
• nonnescience
  noun
• nonnescient
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of nescience

First recorded in 1605–15; from Late Latin nescientia “ignorance,” from nescient-, the stem of nesciēns, present participle of nescīre “to be ignorant, not to know,” equivalent to ne- “not” + scientia “knowledge”; see science

Example Sentences

Cousin made no reply to Hamilton’s criticism beyond alleging that Hamilton’s doctrine necessarily restricted human knowledge and certainty to psychology and logic, and destroyed metaphysics by introducing nescience and uncertainty into its highest sphere—theodicy.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 6 "Coucy-le-Château" to "Crocodile" by Various

Still less was it a ground for rejoicing, or for supposing that the nescience to which it ought to have given rise could be legitimately exchanged for a metaphysical dogmatism.

From Mysticism and Logic and Other Essays by Russell, Bertrand

Accordingly the gift of counsel is in the blessed, in so far as God preserves in them the knowledge that they have, and enlightens them in their nescience of what has to be done.

From Summa Theologica, Part II-II (Secunda Secundae) Translated by Fathers of the English Dominican Province by Thomas, Aquinas, Saint

And what are all these gloomy and rebellious infidelities, these touching, and too sincere confessions of universal nescience, but a protest against this ancient law of Death?

From Natural Law in the Spiritual World by Drummond, Henry

Living here means nescience simply; 'tis next life that helps to learn.

From Poems with Power to Strengthen the Soul by Mudge, James