I. ˈnōm noun
Etymology: Greek gnōmē, from gignōskein to know — more at know
Date: 1577
: maxim , aphorism
II. noun
Etymology: French, from New Latin gnomus
Date: 1661
1. : an ageless and often deformed dwarf of folklore who lives in the earth and usually guards treasure
2. : an elemental being in the theory of Paracelsus that inhabits earth
• gnome·like -ˌlīk adjective
• gnom·ish ˈnō-mish adjective