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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.
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Origin of theosophy

1640–50; < Medieval Latin theosophia < Late Greek theosophía. See theo-, -sophy
Related formsthe·o·soph·i·cal [thee-uh-sof-i-kuh l] /ˌθi əˈsɒf ɪ kəl/, the·o·soph·ic, adjectivethe·o·soph·i·cal·ly, adverbthe·os·o·phism, nounthe·os·o·phist, nounnon·the·o·soph·ic, adjectivenon·the·o·soph·i·cal, adjectivenon·the·o·soph·i·cal·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for theosophy

Historical Examples

  • Philosophy she lacked, but theosophy, which is a pansophy, she possessed—when she did not need it.

    The Paliser case

    Edgar Saltus

  • If that is theosophy, I will believe it when I am old, fat and a Hun.

    The Paliser case

    Edgar Saltus

  • Theosophy for some time previously had been preparing the ground for such a movement.

    My Reminiscences

    Rabindranath Tagore

  • That is the affirmation of Theosophy, that is its root-meaning and its essence.

  • Theosophy is the essence of all doctrines, the inner truth of all religions.

British Dictionary definitions for theosophy

theosophy

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
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Derived Formstheosophical (ˌθɪəˈsɒfɪkəl), adjectivetheosophically, adverbtheosophism, nountheosophist, noun

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 Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for 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