gnosis

noun

gno·​sis ˈnō-səs How to pronounce gnosis (audio)
: esoteric knowledge of spiritual truth held by the ancient Gnostics to be essential to salvation

Examples of gnosis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Because of this discontinuity, Gnostic religions tended to include roles for special authorities possessing secret knowledge (gnosis) of God's wishes and intentions that couldn't be discerned from the structure of the world in which humans find ourselves. Damon Linker, The Week, 8 Feb. 2022 The red pill: gnosis, baby. Max Read, Vulture, 22 Dec. 2021 Another noted Alexandrian thinker was Valentinus, whose interpretation of Christianity required believers to embrace divine knowledge—in Greek, gnosis. National Geographic, 19 Apr. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gnosis.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Greek gnōsis, literally, knowledge, from gignōskein

First Known Use

1703, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gnosis was in 1703

Dictionary Entries Near gnosis

Cite this Entry

“Gnosis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gnosis. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.

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