astrognosy

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*ǵneh₃-“to know; to recognize”
2. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*h₂eHs-“to burn; to glow”
3. Ancient Greek · derived fromἄστρον“celestial body; (specifically) fixed star; planet”
4. Late Latin · derived fromastrognosia
5. German · derived fromAstrognosie
6. English todayastrognosy

From astro- (prefix meaning ‘star’) + -gnosy (suffix denoting the scientific knowledge of a subject), modelled on German Astrognosie, or its etymon Late Latin astrognosia, from Ancient Greek ἄστρον (ástron, “celestial body; (specifically) fixed star; planet”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eHs- (“to burn; to glow”)) + -γνωσία (-gnōsía) (from γνῶσις (gnôsis, “inquiry; knowledge”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ǵneh₃- (“to know; to recognize”)).

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from early 19th c. Knowledge of the stars, especially the fixed stars; the branch of astronomy dealing with the fixed stars.