telegnosis: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Extremely Rare / ObscureHighly specialized, technical (parapsychology), occasionally academic or literary.
Quick answer
What does “telegnosis” mean?
The supposed faculty of obtaining knowledge or information from a distant source, beyond the reach of the ordinary senses, often associated with psychic phenomena.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The supposed faculty of obtaining knowledge or information from a distant source, beyond the reach of the ordinary senses, often associated with psychic phenomena.
Knowledge or perception of distant events or objects acquired without the use of known sensory channels; in parapsychology, a form of extrasensory perception (ESP). Sometimes used metaphorically for exceptionally accurate remote analysis or intuition.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant regional differences in usage, as the term is confined to a niche field. Spelling conventions follow the standard 'telegnosis' in both.
Connotations
Carries the same connotations of pseudoscience or the paranormal in both dialects. In skeptical contexts, it is used dismissively.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both. Slightly more likely to be encountered in historical texts on spiritualism or parapsychology.
Grammar
How to Use “telegnosis” in a Sentence
[Subject] + demonstrate/have/claim + telegnosistelegnosis + of + [distant event/object]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “telegnosis” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The medium claimed to telegnose the location of the missing artefact.
American English
- The researcher attempted to telegnose the contents of a sealed envelope in the controlled experiment.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used critically in psychology or history of science papers discussing parapsychology.
Everyday
Extremely unlikely to be encountered.
Technical
Core term within parapsychology literature, though modern parapsychologists often prefer 'remote viewing' or 'ESP'.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “telegnosis”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “telegnosis”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “telegnosis”
- Using it as a synonym for 'telepathy'.
- Using it in a mainstream scientific context.
- Misspelling as 'telegenosis' or 'telegnosys'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, telegnosis and related phenomena are not accepted by the mainstream scientific community due to a lack of reproducible evidence under controlled conditions.
Clairvoyance typically implies 'clear seeing' of distant or hidden objects/events. Telegnosis is a broader term for acquiring any kind of knowledge from a distance, not necessarily visual.
It would be very unusual and likely misunderstood. Using terms like 'intuition', 'a hunch', or 'a lucky guess' is far more common for similar concepts.
The verb 'to telegnose' is extremely rare and non-standard. It is formed by back-formation but is not found in dictionaries.
The supposed faculty of obtaining knowledge or information from a distant source, beyond the reach of the ordinary senses, often associated with psychic phenomena.
Telegnosis is usually highly specialized, technical (parapsychology), occasionally academic or literary. in register.
Telegnosis: in British English it is pronounced /ˌtɛlɪɡˈnəʊsɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌtɛlɪɡˈnoʊsɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A case of telegnosis (used to describe an inexplicably accurate guess about a distant event).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'TELE-vision' (seeing at a distance) + 'GNOSIS' (Greek for knowledge) = knowledge from a distance.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE MIND IS A RECEIVER (capable of tuning into distant information signals).
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'telegnosis' primarily used?