Knowledge or understanding of the origin and structure of the universe and the world.
From Greek kosmos (universe) + gnosis (knowledge). The term combines two Greek roots to describe comprehensive knowledge about the cosmos, emerging in late 19th century philosophical discourse.
This rare word captures the ancient human drive to understand everything—it's what drove philosophers from Thales to modern physicists. The suffix '-gnosis' appears in 'diagnosis' and 'prognosis,' showing how we use it whenever we're seeking deep knowledge about complex systems.
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