[ad. Gr. κοσμογονί-α creation of the world, f. κόσμο-ς world + -γονια a begetting (cf. κοσμογόνος adj. world-creating). In mod.F. cosmogonie. Cf. COSMOGENY.]
1. The generation or creation of the existing universe.
[1678. Cudworth, Intell. Syst., 248 (R.). It was a most ancient … tradition amongst the Pagans … that the cosmogonia or generation of the world took its first beginning from a chaos.]
1766. Goldsm., Vic. W., xiv. Yet the cosmogony, or creation of the world, has puzzled philosophers of all ages.
1809. W. Irving, Knickerb., I. ii. (1849), 36. That I should proceed to notice the cosmogony or formation of this our globe.
1859. Kingsley, Misc. (1860), I. 306. He uses strange tools in His cosmogony: but He does not use them in vain.
2. a. The subject of the generation of the universe, as a study or branch of learning.
1777. G. Forster, Voy. round World, II. 155. Teachers … who are skilled in theogony and cosmogony.
1856. Farmer’s Mag., Jan., 16. It is little more than fifty years since the speculations of cosmogony were abandoned.
1871. Tyndall, Fragm. Sc. (1879), II. iii. 40. In his mind … cosmogony and religion were indissolubly associated.
b. A theory, system or account of the creation or generation of the universe.
1696. Whiston, Th. Earth, IV. (1722), 312. The Mosaick Cosmogony … supposes the Waters to have encompass’d the Globe.
1748. Hartley, Observ. Man, II. ii. 87. There were many Cosmogonies and Theogonies current amongst the Pagans.
1855. Milman, Lat. Chr. (1863), II. 32. The vast and imaginative cosmogonies of the East.
