I.the ancient capital of Crete, the residence of Minos; now Cnosson, Mel. 2, 7, 12; Plin. 4, 12, 20, § 59; Luc. 3, 185 Cort. N. cr.; Lact. 1, 11, 46.—
II. Derivv.
A. Gnōsĭus (Gnoss-, Cnōs- , or Cnoss- ), a, um, adj., of or belonging to Gnosus, or poet., in gen., to Crete, Gnosian, Cretan: “Ctesiphon,” of Gnosus, Plin. 7, 37, 38, § 125: “Epimenides,” id. 7, 48, 49, § 154: “calami spicula,” Hor. C. 1, 15, 17: “castra,” of Minos, Ov. M. 8, 40: “regna,” Verg. A. 3, 115: “stella Coronae,” i. e. of Ariadne, id. G. 1, 222; also called Gn. ardor Bacchi, Col. poët. 10, 52.—Subst.: Gnōsia , ae, f., the Gnosian, Cretan; of Ariadne, Prop. 1, 3, 2.—In plur.: Gnō-sii , ōrum, m., the inhabitants of Gnosus, Gnosians, Cic. Leg. 1, 5, 15.—
B. Gnōsĭ-ăcus (Gnoss- ), a, um, adj., the same: “rex,” i. e. Minos, Ov. M. 8, 52: “regnum,” i. e. Crete, id. ib. 9, 669; so, “carina,” id. ib. 8, 144; cf. “rates,” id. ib. 7, 471.—
C. Gnōsĭas (Gnoss- ), ădis, adj., Gnosian, Cretan: “juvencae,” Ov. A. A. 1, 293.—Subst., fem., the Gnosian, i. e. Ariadne, Ov. A. A. 1, 556.—
D. Gnōsis (Gnoss- ), ĭdis, adj., the same: “corona,” i. e. the constellation of Ariadne's Crown, Ov. F. 3, 460.—Subst., fem., the Gnosian, i. e. Ariadne, Ov. H. 15, 25; Stat. S. 5, 1, 232; id. Th. 12, 676 al.
