omniscient

[ om-nish-uhnt ]

adjective

1. having complete or unlimited knowledge, awareness, or understanding; perceiving all things.

noun

1. an omniscient being.
2. the Omniscient, God.

omniscient

/ ɒmˈnɪsɪənt /

adjective

1. having infinite knowledge or understanding
2. having very great or seemingly unlimited knowledge

Derived Forms

• omˈnisciently, adverb
• omˈniscience, noun

Other Words From

• om·niscient·ly adverb
• unom·niscient adjective
• unom·niscient·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of omniscient¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from New Latin omniscient-, stem of omnisciēns “all-knowing,” from Latin omni- omni- + sciēns “knowing” ( science )

Word History and Origins

Origin of omniscient¹

C17: from Medieval Latin omnisciens, from Latin omni- + scīre to know

Example Sentences

I loved all the examples of Hitchcock’s omniscient point of view.

From Salon

So does narration that alternates between the main characters and an omniscient author, using first, second or third person singular, depending.

From Los Angeles Times

Adding to the busyness, Puts heavily features the chorus as a collective, omniscient narrator and the characters’ inner voices.

From New York Times

If you get sucked into a cult, there is this psychology of worshipping the Dear Leader, he or she is omniscient, the Messiah.

From Salon

That is the way Moravia writes — except that you, reader, have been granted omniscient privileges to sit on his shoulder and copy all the answers!

From New York Times

Related Words

• all-knowing
• all-seeing