theosophy

• theosophie (archaic)
• Theosophy

From Medieval Latin theosophia, from Ancient Greek θεοσοφῐ́ᾱ (theosophíā, “knowledge of things divine”, from θεός (theós, “god”) +‎ σοφῐ́ᾱ (sophíā, “wisdom”)); analogous to theo- +‎ -sophy.

• (UK) IPA^(key): [θɪˈɒsəfɪ]
• (General American) IPA^(key): [θi.ˈɑs.ə.fi]
• Hyphenation: the‧os‧o‧phy

theosophy (usually uncountable, plural theosophies)

1. (philosophy, religion) Any doctrine of religious philosophy and mysticism claiming that knowledge of God can be attained through mystical insight and spiritual ecstasy, and that direct communication with the transcendent world is possible.
   • 1984 Oct, Tanith Lee, “Bite-Me-Not, or Fleur de Feu”, in Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine‎, volume 8, Davis Publications, →ISSN:

     They have their own traditions of art and science. They do not […] discuss God or metaphysics or men. […] All their wisdom and theosophy, and all their grasp of beauty, truth or love, is in the singing. […] They look unloving enough, and so they are. Pitiless fallen angels.

   • For more quotations using this term, see Citations:theosophy.
2. (religion) Any system which claims to attain communication with God and superior spirits by physical processes.
   • 2000, Urszula Szulakowska, The alchemy of light : geometry and optics in late Renaissance alchemical illustration, Leiden [u.a.]: Brill, →ISBN, page 11:

     The religious ideas of late Renaissance alchemists were based on the Paracelsian theosophical system, which was a half-pagan, half-Christian belief system, both a mystical path and a theurgic practice.

   • For more quotations using this term, see Citations:theosophy.
3. The system of beliefs and doctrines of the Theosophical Society.

• “theosophy”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• “theosophy”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
• “theosophy”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.