obnosis

English

Etymology

First attested in the writings of L. Ron Hubbard and the Church of Scientology. Apparently coined from observe (or perhaps obvious) and Ancient Greek γνῶσις (gnōsis, “knowledge”).

Noun

obnosis (plural obnoses)

1. (chiefly Scientology) Observing the obvious
   • 1958, Ability, Hubbard Association of Scientologists, International, page 12:

     Here you will find the Instructor's Code, Obnosis and the Tone Scale and one of the best descriptions of Assist processing ever published.

   • 1970, B. Robert Ross, A Parent's Guide to the Teaching of Reading: A Compilation of Old and New Methods of Teaching and a New View of the Reading Process: ^[1] Upstat Pub. Co.:

     Obnosis (observing the obvious) must be used at every moment to determine the best next step with any student.

   • 2006 February 23, Janet Reitman, “Inside Scientology: Unlocking the complex code of America's most mysterious religion”, Rolling Stone:

     Hubbard created Scientology's language to be unique to its members. It includes words that are interpretations, or variations, of standard terms: "isness," for example, which Scientology's glossaries say, in essence, means "reality." But there are also words that are wholly made up, such as "obnosis," which means "observation of the obvious."

Quotations

• For usage examples of this term, see the citations page.