Library / English Dictionary

GNOSTIC

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

An advocate of Gnosticism

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("Gnostic" is a kind of...):

advocate; advocator; exponent; proponent (a person who pleads for a cause or propounds an idea)

Derivation:

Gnostic (of or relating to Gnosticism)

 II. (adjective) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Possessing intellectual or esoteric knowledge of spiritual things

Classified under:

Adjectives

Antonym:

agnostic (uncertain of all claims to knowledge)

Derivation:

gnosis (intuitive knowledge of spiritual truths; said to have been possessed by ancient Gnostics)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Of or relating to Gnosticism

Example:

Gnostic writings

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Pertainym:

Gnosticism (a religious orientation advocating gnosis as the way to release a person's spiritual element; considered heresy by Christian churches)

Derivation:

gnosis (intuitive knowledge of spiritual truths; said to have been possessed by ancient Gnostics)

Gnostic (an advocate of Gnosticism)

Credits