gnosis

¹

[noh-sis]

noun

1. knowledge of spiritual matters; mystical knowledge.

-gnosis

²

1. a combining form meaning “knowledge,” used in the formation of compound words.

   prognosis.

-gnosis

¹

combining form

1. (esp in medicine) recognition or knowledge

   prognosis

   diagnosis

gnosis

²

/ ˈnəʊsɪs /

noun

1. supposedly revealed knowledge of various spiritual truths, esp that said to have been possessed by ancient Gnostics

Other Word Forms

• -gnostic combining form

Word History and Origins

Origin of gnosis¹

1695–1705; < New Latin < Greek gnṓsis a seeking to know, equivalent to gnō-, base of gignṓskein know ¹ + -sis -sis

Origin of gnosis²

< Latin -gnōsis < Greek; gnosis

Word History and Origins

Origin of gnosis¹

via Latin from Greek: _gnosis

Origin of gnosis²

C18: ultimately from Greek: knowledge, from gignōskein to know

Example Sentences

"The Origin Of Love" remains one of the loveliest songs about romance recorded in the last two decades, while Mitchell and Trask, as Hedwig and Gnosis, provide perfect counterpoints for the film's musical tete-a-tete.

From Salon

Its protagonist, an East German-born singer-songwriter who underwent a botched sex-reassignment surgery, is performing at a venue down the road from the more successful tour of her rock-star former lover, Tommy Gnosis.

From Washington Post

The last god you meet, Gnosis, offers players a tempting counteroffer to Elil’s request for pages.

From Washington Post

Interspersed with Jafarieh’s musings about intention, gratitude and the “gnosis of self,” Djokovic delivers a unique moment of introspection about his journeys as a tennis player and a person.

From New York Times

We also learn about her romantic and professional hangups with Tommy Gnosis, her former protégé and ex-boyfriend.

From New York Times

When To Use

What does -gnosis mean?

The combining form -gnosis is used like a suffix meaning “knowledge.” It is occasionally used in scientific and technical terms, especially in medicine.The form -gnosis comes from Greek gnṓsis, meaning “a seeking to know.”What are variants of -gnosis?While -gnosis doesn't have any variants, it is related to the form -gnostic, which denotes adjectives related to -gnosis, as in diagnostic. Another relative of -gnosis is the form -gnomy, as in physiognomy. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use -gnosis article.