geognosyEtymologyFrom German Geognosie; coined by Abraham Gottlob Werner. By surface analysis, geo- + -gnosy.geognosy means The geological study of the Earth's structure and composition. Lexicurio rates it Sui generis — a strength score of 87 out of 100.nounThe geological study of the Earth's structure and composition.“Some writers divide Geology into two branches; 1. Geognosy, or Positive Geology, which embraces only the known facts of the science. 2. Geogony, or Speculative Geology, which attempts to point out the causes of those facts, and the inferences that result from them.”