agnosticism
|ag-nos-ti-cism|
C1
/æɡˈnɒstɪˌsɪzəm/
belief in the unknowable
Etymology
Etymology Information
'agnosticism' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'agnostos,' where 'a-' meant 'not' and 'gnostos' meant 'known.'
Historical Evolution
'agnostos' transformed into the English word 'agnostic' in the 19th century, and eventually became the modern English word 'agnosticism.'
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'not known,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'belief in the unknowability of the divine.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a belief system that holds that the existence of God, the divine, or the supernatural is unknown or unknowable.
Agnosticism allows for the possibility of a higher power but does not claim certainty.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:45