gnos·tic

[nos-tik]
adjective Also, gnos·ti·cal.
1.
pertaining to knowledge.
2.
possessing knowledge, especially esoteric knowledge of spiritual matters.
3.
( initial capital letter ) pertaining to or characteristic of the Gnostics.
noun
4.
( 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.

Origin:
1555–65; < Late Latin Gnōsticī (plural) name of the sect < Greek gnōstikós (singular) pertaining to knowledge, equivalent to gnōst(ós) known + -ikos -ic

gnos·ti·cal·ly, adverb
an·ti·gnos·tic, adjective, noun
an·ti·gnos·ti·cal, adjective
un·gnos·tic, adjective
00:10
Gnostic is always a great word to know.
So is ort. Does it mean:
an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.
a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal.
Dictionary.com Unabridged

-gnostic

a combination of -gnosis and -ic, used to form adjectives from stems ending in -gnosis:, prognostic.

Origin:
< Medieval Latin -gnōsticus < Greek gnōstikós pertaining to knowledge

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To Gnostic
Collins
World English Dictionary
-gnosis
 
n combining form
(esp in medicine) recognition or knowledge: prognosis; diagnosis
 
[via Latin from Greek: gnosis]
 
-gnostic
 
adj combining form

gnostic or gnostical (ˈnɒstɪk) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
adj
of, relating to, or possessing knowledge, esp esoteric spiritual knowledge
 
gnostical or gnostical
 
adj
 
'gnostically or gnostical
 
adv

Gnostic (ˈnɒstɪk) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n
1.  an adherent of Gnosticism
 
adj
2.  of or relating to Gnostics or to Gnosticism
 
[C16: from Late Latin Gnosticī the Gnostics, from Greek gnōstikos relating to knowledge, from gnōstos known, from gignōskein to know]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

Gnostic
c.1585, from L.L. gnosticus, from Late Gk. gnostikos, noun use of adj. gnostikos "knowing, able to discern," from gnostos "knowable," from gignoskein "to learn, to come to know" (see know). Applied to various early Christian sects that claimed direct personal knowledge beyond
the Gospel or the Church hierarchy. The adj. meaning "relating to knowledge" (with lower-case g-) is from 1656.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences from the web
Charges of gnostic libertinism find their source in the works of irenaeus.
On the whole, it would seem that gnostic behavior tended towards the ascetic.
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