Word of the Day

: August 9, 2008

omniscient

adjective ahm-NISH-unt

What It Means

1 : having infinite awareness, understanding, and insight

2 : possessed of universal or complete knowledge

omniscient in Context

While many students expect their professors to be omniscient, Anton was glad that Dr. Hawkins was honest about the things she did not know.

Did You Know?

One who is "omniscient" literally "knows all." The word, which has been part of English since at least the beginning of the 17th century, brings together two Latin roots: the prefix "omni-," meaning "all," and the verb "scire," meaning "to know." You will recognize "omni-" as the prefix that tells all in such words as "omnivorous" ("eating all," or, more precisely, "eating both meat and vegetables") and "omnipotent" ("all-powerful"). "Scire" likewise has a number of other knowledge-related descendants in English, including "conscience," "science," and "prescience" (meaning "foreknowledge").