omniscience
UK[ɒmˈnɪʃəns]US[ɑːmˈnɪʃəns]
n
The state of knowing everything.
n
The quality of having infinite knowledge.
Morpheme Breakdown
omni
science
omni
all
science
knowledge
Etymology
The word 'omniscience' is a direct borrowing from Medieval Latin 'omniscientia', itself a compound of the Latin adjective 'omnis' (all) and the noun 'scientia' (knowledge). The concept is deeply rooted in theological and philosophical discourse, specifically used to describe an attribute of a supreme being. The literal meaning, "the state of knowing all things," has remained remarkably stable from its Latin origins into modern English, where it is used both in religious contexts to describe a deity and in secular contexts to describe a hypothetical or idealized state of complete knowledge.
Analysis
Structure: omni (all) + science (knowledge)
- omni: From Latin 'omnis', meaning 'all'. It functions as a combining form indicating totality or universality.
- science: From Latin 'scientia', meaning 'knowledge'. It functions as the core noun element denoting a state or body of knowledge.
Examples
The theological doctrine of God's omniscience is a cornerstone of many faiths.
The novel's narrator had an air of annoying omniscience, revealing every character's secret thoughts.
In a fantasy setting, the artifact granted its wielder temporary omniscience.