noesis

noun

no·​e·​sis
nōˈēsə̇s
plural -es
1
: purely intellectual apprehension:
a
Platonism : the highest kind of knowledge or knowledge of the eternal forms or ideas
contrasted with dianoia
b
in Husserl : the subjective aspect of or the act in an intentional experience
distinguished from noema
2
: cognition especially when occurring through direct knowledge

Word History

Etymology

Greek noēsis, from noein to perceive, think

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near noesis

Cite this Entry

“Noesis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/noesis. Accessed 7 Dec. 2022.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!


The Great British Vocabulary Quiz

  • union jack speech bubble
  • Named after Sir Robert Peel, what are British police called?
Name That Thing

You know what it looks like… but what is it called?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Universal Daily Crossword

A daily challenge for crossword fanatics.

TAKE THE QUIZ