cosmogony

American  

[koz-mog-uh-nee] / kɒzˈmɒg ə ni /

noun

plural

cosmogonies

1. a theory or story of the origin and development of the universe, the solar system, or the earth-moon system.

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cosmogony British  

/ kɒzˈmɒɡənɪ, ˌkɒzməˈɡɒnɪk /

noun

1. the study of the origin and development of the universe or of a particular system in the universe, such as the solar system

2. a theory of such an origin or evolution

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cosmogony Scientific  

/ kŏz-mŏg′ə-nē /

1. The branch of cosmology that studies the origin of the universe and the larger objects found within it, such as the solar system.

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Other Word Forms

• cosmogonal adjective
• cosmogonic adjective
• cosmogonical adjective
• cosmogonist noun

Etymology

Origin of cosmogony

First recorded in 1860–65, cosmogony is from the Greek word kosmogonía creation of the world. See cosmo-, -gony

Compare meaning

How does cosmogony compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• cosmology vs. cosmogony

Example Sentences

If there is no testable means of determining which creation cosmogony is correct, perhaps they are all astounding science fictions.

From Scientific American • Oct. 20, 2011

He threw in a few references to physics, anthropology, cosmogony and medicine.

From Time Magazine Archive

The net result: "plastic cosmogony" � which means, he says, "no longer a symbolization or interpretation but, through the specific means of art, a direct visualization of the forces which move our mind and body."

From Time Magazine Archive

In the cosmogony of Hermopolis the universe and the gods that direct it are the creation of his word, which later ages refined into the sound of his voice.

From The Religions of Ancient Egypt and Babylonia by Sayce, A. H. (Archibald Henry)

The vast multitude of the spiral nebul� indicates clearly their importance in the theory of the cosmogony, or science of the development of the material universe.

From Astronomy: The Science of the Heavenly Bodies by Todd, David Peck