theosophy
[thee-os-uh-fee]
- any of various forms of philosophical or religious thought based on a mystical insight into the divine nature.
- (often initial capital letters) the system of belief and practice of the Theosophical Society.
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Origin of theosophy
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for theosophist
Contemporary Examples
Fabulous lunatic Madame Blavatsky was a con artist, a mystic, and the founder of the Theosophist Society.
Historical Examples
Only a theosophist could imagine that they would be young girls.
The Paliser caseEdgar Saltus
They must be recognised as fit objects for the study of the Theosophist.
London Lectures of 1907Annie Besant
The books in which much of it is written are as free to the non-Theosophist as to the Theosophist.
London Lectures of 1907Annie Besant
They regarded the theosophist as far superior in every respect to the theologian.
Mystics and Saints of IslamClaud Field
The ideal of the Theosophist is the at one-ment of his own spirit with that of the Infinite.
theosophy
- any of various religious or philosophical systems claiming to be based on or to express an intuitive insight into the divine nature
- the system of beliefs of the Theosophical Society founded in 1875, claiming to be derived from the sacred writings of Brahmanism and Buddhism, but denying the existence of any personal God
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Word Origin
C17: from Medieval Latin theosophia, from Late Greek; see theo-, -sophy
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for theosophist
theosophy
n.
1640s (implied in theosophical), "knowledge about God and nature obtained through mystical study," from Medieval Latin theosophia (c.880), from Late Greek theosophia (c.500, Pseudo-Dionysus) "wisdom concerning God or things divine," from Greek theosophos "one wise about God," from theos "god" (see Thea) + sophos "wise, learned" (see sophist). Taken as the name of a modern philosophical system (sometimes called Esoteric Buddhism), founded in New York 1875 as "Theosophical Society" by Madame Blavatsky and others, which combines teachings of Hinduism and Buddhism.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper