A scientist or scholar who studies geognosis; an early term for what we now call a geologist or earth scientist.
From 'geognosis' plus '-ist' (practitioner). Used in the 18th and early 19th centuries before the more concise term 'geologist' became standard.
The shift from 'geognosist' to 'geologist' reflects how scientific language naturally gravitates toward shorter, simpler terms—but geognosist sounds way cooler and more philosophical.
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