theosophy

[thee-os-uh-fee]

noun

1. any of various forms of philosophical or religious thought based on a mystical insight into the divine nature.

2. (often initial capital letters),  the system of belief and practice of the Theosophical Society.

theosophy

/ ˌθɪəˈsɒfɪkəl, θɪˈɒsəfɪ /

noun

1. any of various religious or philosophical systems claiming to be based on or to express an intuitive insight into the divine nature

2. 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

Other Word Forms

• theosophical adjective
• theosophic adjective
• theosophically adverb
• theosophism noun
• theosophist noun
• nontheosophic adjective
• nontheosophical adjective
• nontheosophically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of theosophy¹

1640–50; < Medieval Latin theosophia < Late Greek theosophía. See theo-, -sophy

Word History and Origins

Origin of theosophy¹

C17: from Medieval Latin theosophia, from Late Greek; see _theo- , _-sophy

Example Sentences

It isn’t necessary to be deeply informed in the spiritual intricacies of theosophy or other early 20th century occult systems to be absorbed into the pleasures of transcendental painting.

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But, she adds, Kandinsky, Mondrian and Malevich were all influenced by contemporary spiritual movements such as theosophy and anthroposophy too, as they sought to transcend the physical world and the constraints of representational art.

Read more on The Guardian

They included the extreme occultist theosophy of Russian writer Helena Blavatsky and the more sober version found in the anthroposophy of Austrian social reformer Rudolf Steiner.

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It is not just their much-admired spirituality that distinguishes them — their blend of theosophy, Buddhism, astrology and the occult was not unusual among artists of the moment.

Read more on New York Times

He was drawn to theosophy and Eastern philosophy.

Read more on Washington Post