Search the Dictionary

One who is impeccable; esp., one of a sect of Gnostic heretics who asserted their sinlessness. God is infallible, impeccable, and absolutely perfect. P. Skelton.

pecially, a systematic apathy regarding what is true or false in religion or philosophy; agnosticism. The indifferentism which equalizes all religions and gives equal rights to truth and error. Cardinal Manning.

A follower of Marcion, a Gnostic of the second century, who adopted the Oriental notion of the two conflicting principles, and imagined that between them there existed a third power, neither wholly good nor evil, the Creator of the world and of man, and the God of the Jewish dispensation. Brande & C.…

One of a Gnostic sect of the second century, so called from Marcus, an Egyptian, who was reputed to be a margician.

Want of knowledge; ignorance; agnosticism. God fetched it about for me, in that absence and nescience of mine. Bp. Hall.

The observed of all observers. Shak. Careful observers may foretell the hour, By sure prognostic, when to dread a shower. Swift.

Prognostication by the letters of a name.

A mamber of a Gnostic serpent-worshiping sect of the second century.

A preceding circumstance or condition; an antecedent; hence, a prognostic; a token; a sign. [Obs.]

Prophetic; prognostic. [R.]

A prognostic; an omen. [Obs.] Gower.

Something which foreshows or portends a future event; a prognostic; an omen; an augury. "Joy and shout -- presage of victory." Milton.

iscillian, bishop of Avila in Spain, in the fourth century, who mixed various elements of Gnosticism and Manicheism with Christianity.

To foretell; to predict; to prognosticate. He doth not prophesy good concerning me. 1 Kings xxii. 8. Then I perceive that will be verified Henry the Fifth did sometime prophesy. Shak.

Augury; prognostication. [Obs.] The soothe of birds by beating of their wings. Spenser.

One who foretells events by the art of soothsaying; a prognosticator.

A prediction; a prophecy; a prognostication. Divinations and soothsayings and dreams are vain. Eclus. xxxiv. 5.

cy of superior powers in certain extraordinary or singular events, or in magic, omens, prognostics, or the like.

series; as, a tissue of forgeries, or of falsehood. Unwilling to leave the dry bones of Agnosticism wholly unclothed with any living tissue of religious emotion. A. J. Balfour. Tissue paper, very thin, gauzelike paper, used for protecting engravings in books, for wrapping up delicate articles, etc.

One of a school of Judaizing Gnostics in the second century; -- so called from Valentinus, the founder.