know 
[Formerly, by a Latinism, how was sometimes omitted, es- 
pecially in poetry. 
Sweet prince, the name of death was never terrible 
To him that knew to live. 
Fletcher, Double Marriage, ii. 3. 
He knew 
Himself to sing, and build the lofty rhyme. 
Milton, Lycidas, 1. 11. 
How few among them that know to write or speak in a 
pure stile. Milton, Apology for Smectymnuus.) 
6f. To have sexual commerce with. Gen. iv. 1 . 
[A euphemism.] I know not what, a phrase used 
as a noun or an adjective to express indefinite, and espe- 
cially indefinitely large amounts. 
Our Seamen are apt to have great Notions of I know not 
what Prolit and Advantages to be had in serving the Mo- 
gul ; nor do they want for fine Stories to encourage one 
another to it. Dampier, Voyages, 1. 507. 
Not to know beans. See beani. Not to know B 
from a bull's foot, broomstick battledore. See B. 
To know a hawk from a hand-saw. See hand-saw. 
To know a move or two. See move. To know the 
ropes, (a) To be qualified for the duties of a sailor by 
having learned the details of the rigging of a vessel. 
Hence (6) To understand the details of a particular 
thing ; have knowledge of the routine of any business. 
[Colloq.] To know what's o'clock, to be well informed 
and equal to any emergency. [Colloq.] 
Partial friends say I know what ' o'clock tolerably well. 
Thackeray, Pendennis, x. 
To know what's What, to have clear knowledge or com- 
prehension of a subject ; be thoroughly posted ; be sure 
of one's ground ; have one's eye-teeth cut. [Colloq. ] 
He knew what's what, and that's as high 
AB metaphysic wit can fly. 
Sutler, Hudibras, I. i. 149. 
II. intrans. 1. To possess knowledge; be in- 
formed ; have intelligence. 
If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, 
whether it be of Sod, or whether I speak of myself. 
John vii. 17. 
Sir John must not know of it. 
Shak., 2 Hen. IV., ii. 4, 19. 
When want of learning kept the laymen low, 
And none but priests were authoriz'd to know. 
Dryden, Religio Laid, 1. 373. 
2. To take cognizance; acquire knowledge; 
get intelligence. 
And for he kneug on the crois and to Crist shref hym, 
Sounere hadde he saluacion thanne seinte Ion. 
Piers Plowman (A), xi. 273. 
Know of your youth, examine well your blood. 
Shak., M. N. D., L 1, 68. 
3f. To be acquainted with each other. 
You and 1 have known, sir. Shak., A. and C., it 6, 86. 
Sir, we have known together in Orleans. 
Shak., Cymbeline, i. 4, 36. 
I want to know, a New England colloquial phrase, equiv- 
alent to Ms it possible?' 'you surprise me!' Not that 
I know of, not so far as I know ; not to my knowledge. 
Crabt. Mr. Surface, pray is it true that your uncle, Sir 
Oliver, is coming home? 
Joseph S. Not that I know of, indeed, sir. 
Sheridan, School for Scandal, i. 1. 
To know for, an old expression meaning the same as to 
know oft still used colloquially. 
He might have more diseases than he knew for. 
Shak., 2 Hen. IV.,i. 2, 6. 
know 1 ! (no), n. [< 'know' 1 , v.~\ Knowledge. 
That on the view and know of these contents . . . 
He should the bearers put to sodaine death. 
Shak., Hamlet (fol. 1623), v. 2, 44. 
know 2 (nou), n. A dialectal (Scotch) form of 
knoW. 
I hae been east, and I hae been west, 
An' I hae been far o'er the knowes. 
The Broom of Cowdenknows (Child's Ballads, IV. 47). 
know 3 t, knowet, '* Middle English forms of 
knee. 
" Myself to medes wol the letre sowe," 
And held his hondes up, and fll on knows. 
Chaucer, Troilus, ii. 1202. 
knowable (no'a-bl), a. [< know 1 + -able.] 
That may be known; capable of being appre- 
hended, understood, or ascertained. 
A thing exists for us only in its knowable relations. 
G. H. Lewes, Probs. of Life and Mind, II. 14. 
Be it a single object or the whole universe, any account 
which begins with it in a concrete form, or leaves off with 
it in a concrete form, is incomplete ; since there remains 
an era of its knowable existence undescribed and unex- 
plained. H. Spencer, First Principles, 3. 
knowableness (no'a-bl-nes), n. The quality 
of being kuowable. 
know-all (no'al), n. [< Icnowl, v., + obj. H.] 
One who knows or professes to know every- 
thing ; a wiseacre: generally used ironically. 
knower (no'er), . One who knows. 
If it be at all the work of man, it must be of such a one 
as is a true knower of himself. 
Milton, Church-Government, i. 1. 
For if writers be just to the memory of King Charles 
the Second, they cannot deny him to have been an exact 
knower of mankind, and a perfect distinguisher of their 
talents, Dryden, King Arthur, Ded. 
3308 
knowing (no'ing), n. [< ME. knowinge, cnaw- 
inij, < AS. cndiFung, verbal n. of cndwan, know: 
see JtBOK' 1 .] Knowledge ; acquaintance ; ascer- 
tainment ; power or means of ascertaining. 
To the contree of Ennopye hym dighte 
There as he had a frende of his knowynge. 
Chaucer, Good Women, 1. 2156. 
I have seen 
Hours dreadful, and things strange ; but this sore night 
Hath trifled former knowings. Shak., Macbeth, ii. 4, 4. 
How he could be "kin " to Bulstrode as well was not so 
clear, but Mrs. Abel agreed with her husband that there 
was " no knowing." George Eliot, Middleman:!), Ixix. 
knowing (no'ing), p. a. [Ppr. of know 1 , .] 1. 
Having perception or knowledge; intelligent; 
instructed. 
As if the filth of poverty sunk as deep 
Into a knowing spirit as the bane 
Of riches doth into an ignorant soul. 
B. Jonson, Poetaster, v. 1. 
Cherish, good Theophilus, 
This knowing scholar. 
Massinger, Virgin-Martyr, i. 1. 
2. Conscious; intentional. 
He that remains in the grace of God sins not by any 
deliberate, consultive, knowing act. 
Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1S85X I. 770. 
3. Shrewd; sharp; smart; in a special sense, 
having or simulating the appearance of pos- 
sessing information which one is unwilling to 
communicate. 
I don't quite like this chit. She looks knowing, me- 
thinks. Goldsmith, She Stoops to Conquer, iii. 
I have remarked that your knowing people, who are so 
much wiser than anybody else, are eternally keeping soci- 
ety in a ferment. lining, Knickerbocker, p. 161. 
4. Expressive of knowledge or cunning : as, a 
knoivinglook. 5. Smart-looking; stylish. [Col- 
loq.] 
Many young men who had chambers in the Temple 
made a very good appearance in the first circles, and drove 
about town in very knowing gigs. 
Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility, xix. 
Tom thought his cap a very knowing affair, but confessed 
that he had a hat. T. Hughes, Tom Brown at Rugby, i. 5. 
=Syn. Astute, Sage, etc. See astute. (See also sagacious.) 
knowingly (no'ing-li), adv. In a knowing man- 
ner; with knowledge; intentionally; designed- 
ly: as, he would not knowingly offend. 
How you speak ! 
Did you but know the city's usuries, 
And felt them knowingly. 
Shak., Cymbeline, iii. 3, 46. 
knowingness (no'ing-nes), n. The state or 
quality of being knowing or shrewd. 
"Well done, little 'un," said Mr. Tulliver, laughing, 
while Tom felt rather disgusted with Maggie's knowing- 
ness. George Eliot, Mill on the Floss, ii. 1. 
knowlachet, knowlaget, n. Middle English 
forms of knowledge. 
knowlechet, and v. A Middle English form 
of knowledge. 
knowledge (nol'ej), n. [< ME. knowlege, know- 
leche, knouleche, knowliche, knolych, knowlage, 
knowlaehe, knawlage, knawlache, etc., know- 
ledge, < knowen, know, + -leche, assibilated 
form of -leke, < Icel. -leikr, -leiki = Sw. -lek, a suf- 
fix used to form abstract nouns, = AS. -lac, in 
mediae, wedlock, prob. identical with lac, play, 
gift : see lake 2 , loke^. The term, -leche became 
assimilated, through -lache, to the suffix -jre.] 
1. The state of being or of having become 
aware of fact or truth ; intellectual recognition 
of or acquaintance with fact or truth; the con- 
dition of knowing. Subjectively considered, know- 
ledge implies clear conviction or a consciousness of cer- 
tainty; but this consciousness does not constitute know- 
ledge, and may be associated with error. 
Knowledge is the perception of the agreement or dis- 
agreement of two ideas. 
Locke, Human Understanding, IV. i. 2. 
The essentials of Cognition, or Knowledge, may be 
summed up thus : First. To know any single thing, we 
must be conscious of it as Differing from some things, and 
as Agreeing with other things. To this extent knowledge 
involves only what belongs to Sensation and Perception. 
Secondly. When Knowledge amounts to Affirmation there 
are usually at least two things taken notice of : and not 
only so, but the couple must be farther viewed, as coming 
under a third property, namely one of the Universal Pre- 
dicates of Propositions for example, Co-existence or Suc- 
cession. "The sun is a luminous body," "night follows 
day " are higher combinations than the mere knowledge 
of "Sun," "Night, ""Day"; they unite simple or elementary 
cognitions into affirmations or propositions ; and the bind- 
ing circumstance is one of the comprehensive generalities 
called Co-existence and Succession. Thirdly. Into these 
Affirmations there must enter the active state or disposi- 
tion termed Belief (or Disbelief). 
A. Bain, Emotions and Will, p. 592. 
We have but faith ; we cannot know ; 
For knowledge is of things we see ; 
And yet we trust it comes from thee, 
A beam in darkness : let it grow. 
Tennyson, In Memoriam, Int. 
knowledge 
With that certainty which is absolutely objective, i. e. 
with knowledge, psychology has no direct concern ; it is 
for logic to furnish the criteria by which knowledge is as- 
certained. J. Ward, Encyc. Brit., XX. 83. 
2. A perception, judgment, or idea which is in 
accord with fact or truth ; that which is known. 
"Not all," quod she, "madame, that may not be; 
ffor yet I haue no knoiclage whiche he is." 
Generydes (E. E. T. S.), 1. 730. 
Ill make this new report to be my knowledge; 
I'll say I know it ; nay, I'll swear I saw it. 
Beau, and Fl., Philaster, iii. 1. 
All gouernment of action is to be gotten by knowledge, 
and knowledge best, by gathering many knowledges. 
Sir P. Sidney, Apol. for Poetrie. 
For knowledges are ns pyramides, whereof history is the 
basis : so of Natural Philosophy the basis is Natural His- 
tory ; the stage next the basis is Physic ; the stage next 
the vertical point is Metaphysic. 
Bacon, Advancement of Learning, ii. 
This knowledge of the cause of a phenomenon is differ- 
ent from . . . the knowledge of that phEenomenon simply 
as a fact ; and these two cognitions or knowledges have, 
accordingly, received different names. The latter . . . 
is called historical or empirical knowledge ; the former is 
called philosophical, or scientific, or rational knowledge. 
Sir W. Hamilton, Metaph., iii. 
3. Acquaintance with things ascertained or as- 
certainable ; acquired information ; learning. 
Ignorance is the curse of God, 
Knowledge the wing wherewith we fly to heaven. 
Shak., 2 Hen. VI., iv. 7, 79. 
I think by far the most important bill in our whole code 
is that for the diffusion of knmi-ledge among the people. 
Jefferson, Correspondence, II. 45. 
4. Practical understanding ; familiarity gained 
by actual experience ; acquaintance with any 
fact or person : as, a knowledge of seamanship ; 
I have no knowledge of the man. 
Thys is gret meruell 
That ye take a wif vnknow what is sche, 
Neither haue knewlich of htr gouernail, 
Ne of Mr kinrede ; strange is without fail 1 
Born, of Partenay (E. E. T. S.), 1. 844. 
The dog straight fawned upon his master for old know- 
ledge. Sir P. Sidney. 
Huram sent him by the hands of his servants ships, and 
servants that had knowledge of the sea. 2 Chron. viii. 18. 
This gentleman 's a stranger to my knowledge; 
And, no doubt, sir, a worthy man. 
Fletcher, Wildgoose Chase, iii. 1. 
The wisest of Pagan Philosophers said that the greatest 
Learning was the Knmcledge of one's self. 
HoweU, Letters, ii. 77. 
5. Specific information; notification; adver- 
tisement. 
Ye schall warne the Maister and Wardens thereof, and 
han ynforme wher thei be, as fer forth as ye schall have 
knolych. English Gilds (E. E. T. S.), p. 317. 
I pulled off my headpiece, and humbly entreated her 
pardon, or knowledge why she was cruel. Sir P. Sidney. 
The coast ... is set with small watch-towers, which 
with smoke by day, and fire by night, do give knowledge 
unto one another of ... suspected enemies. 
Sandys, Travailes, p. 10. 
6. Cognizance; notice; recognition. 
Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest 
take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger ? Ruth ii. 10. 
A state's anger 
Should not take knmcledge either of fools or women. 
B. Jonson, Catiline, iv. 6. 
Of your love too and care for us here, we never doubted; 
so are we glad to take knowledg of it in that fullnes we doe. 
Robinson, quoted in Bradford's Plymouth Plantation, 
[p. 163. 
7f. Acknowledgment. 
We geelde us synful & sory 
By Knowliche & confessioun. 
Hymns to Virgin, etc. (E. E. T. S.), p. 21. 
Adhesive, apprehensive, carnal, immediate, etc., 
knowledge. See the adjectives. Habitual know- 
ledge, in the Scotist philos., knowledge latent in the mem- 
ory and capable of being called up when an occasion pre- 
sents itself. Also called habitual cognition. 
Art is properly an habitual knowledge of certain rules 
and maxims. South. 
To one's knowledge, so far as one is informed. 
To my knowledge, 
I never in my life did look on him. 
Shak., Rich. II., ii. 3, 38. 
= Syn. Prudence, Discretion, etc. (see wisdom); compre- 
hension, discernment. 
knowledget (nol'ej), v. [< ME. knowlegen, know- 
li'dien, kiioulechen, cnaicleclien, etc., know, ac- 
knowledge; < knowledge, n. Cf. acknowledge.} 
I. trans. To acknowledge ; confess ; avow. 
For suche Auctoritees, thei seyn that only to God schalle 
a man knmdeche his Defautes, zeldynge him self gylty. 
Mamlciritte, Travels, p. 120. 
He that hath schame of his synne knowlechith it. 
Chaucer, Tale of Melibeus. 
The Turks . . . knowledge one God. 
Ttjndale, Ans. to Sir T. More, etc. (Parker Soc., 1850), p. 53. 
II. intrans. To confess. Wyclif. 
