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gnostic
1[ nos-tik ]
adjective
- 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.
Gnostic
1/ ˈnɒstɪk /
noun
- an adherent of Gnosticism
adjective
- of or relating to Gnostics or to Gnosticism
gnostic
2/ ˈnɒstɪk /
adjective
- of, relating to, or possessing knowledge, esp esoteric spiritual knowledge
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Derived Forms
- ˈgnostically, adverb
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Other Words From
- gnosti·cal·ly adverb
- anti·gnostic adjective noun
- anti·gnosti·cal adjective
- un·gnostic adjective
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Word History and Origins
Origin of gnostic1
Origin of gnostic2
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Word History and Origins
Origin of gnostic1
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Example Sentences
We also have the Gnostic Gospels, discovered in 1947 and adding a wealth of insights into early Christian thinking.
I have been unable to discover any gnostic gem with anything like a modern dragon on it.
He says these scandalous figures resemble those in the Gnostic churches.
Hence, on the other hand, the wild rebound into licentiousness which has sometimes characterized Gnostic or Manichaean sects.
The real root of the difficulty to Platonist as to Gnostic was his sharp antithesis of form as good and matter as evil.
This idea was undoubtedly suggested to him by the threefold division of mankind according to the Gnostic p. 265system.
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Related Words
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Words That Use -gnostic
What does -gnostic mean?
The combining form -gnostic is used like a suffix meaning “of or relating to knowledge.” It is occasionally used in scientific and technical terms, especially in medicine.
The form -gnostic is a combination of two forms. The first is -gnosis, from Greek gnṓsis, meaning “a seeking to know.” The second is the suffix -ic, from Greek -ikos, which denotes adjectives.
What are variants of -gnostic?
While -gnostic doesn’t have any variants, it is related to the forms -gnosis, as in diagnosis, and -gnomy, as in physiognomy. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use articles on -gnosis and -gnomy.
Examples of -gnostic
An example of a word that uses the form -gnostic is diagnostic, “of, relating to, or used in diagnosis.” The word diagnostic comes from Greek diagnōstikós, which uses the equivalent of -gnostic in that language.
The form dia- here means “thoroughly; completely,” from Greek día. The form -gnostic means “relating to knowledge,” as we have already seen. Diagnostic literally translates to “of or relating to complete knowledge.”
What are some words that use the combining form -gnostic?
- agnostic (using the equivalent form of -gnostic in Greek)
- geognostic
- prognostic (using the equivalent form of -gnostic in Greek)
- pyrognostic
- telegnostic
What are some other forms that -gnostic may be commonly confused with?
Break it down!
The combining form pro- means “prior” or “before.” With this in mind, what does prognostic literally mean?
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