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单词 know
释义

known.

Brit. /nəʊ/, U.S. /noʊ/
Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: know v.
Etymology: < know v. Compare earlier knowing n., knowledge n.Much earlier currency (in sense ‘knowledge’) is perhaps implied by the following:c1200 Incipits & Explicits in H. Wanley Catal. Librorum Septentrionalium (1705) 233 Þat giwe he eu chnawe his þreomnesse, & mihtte & strengþe wel to donne, swa giwe Crist us alle. Amen. However, the original manuscript is no longer extant, and the text may be corrupt.
1. The fact or state of knowing something; knowledge. Now rare.In later use chiefly in uses corresponding to in the know (see sense 2a). Also as cognate object: see to know one's (own) know at know v. Phrases 19a, never (also not, devil, sorrow) a know I know at know v. Phrases 19b.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > knowledge, what is known > [noun]
witshipc900
wisdomc950
knowledge1393
notice?1435
notition1453
intellectionc1475
acknowledgec1510
sciturec1540
knowledgement1570
know1592
cognizance1635
conusance1635
cognoscence1647
knowfulness1891
1592 W. Wyrley Capitall de Buz in True Vse Armorie 119 What booteth it of Gentries brag to boast,..When we ourselues no warlike practise trow, But rest ourselues with this old idle know?
a1616 W. Shakespeare Hamlet (1623) v. ii. 45 That on the view and know [1604 knowing] of these Contents..He should the bearers put to sodaine death.
a1825 R. Forby Vocab. E. Anglia (1830) (at cited word) Poor fellow! he has but little know.
1827 Sporting Mag. 21 42 The mare..was jockied by a raw young lad..who had not that kind of know about him to enable her to win.
1875 W. D. Parish Dict. Sussex Dial. 67 Poor fellow, he has got no know whatsumdever, but his sister's a nice knowledgeable girl.
1913 J. A. Moroso Quarry xxviii. 229 He does not possess and cannot possess, because of his inexperience, that thing which the old criminal has—the ‘Know’.
2005 G. Joyce Limits Enchantment iii. 19 She had the touch. She had the know.
2. colloquial.
a. in the know: in possession of information which is not generally known; well-informed.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > knowledge, what is known > [adjective] > knowledgeable, well-informed
knowinga1398
well-knowingc1425
scientc1475
advertised1481
well-informeda1500
scientive1575
callent1656
fly1811
knowledgeable1825
factful1853
dungeonable1855
knowful1855
woke up1871
in the know1883
to be jerry1908
hipped1920
wised-up1926
clueful1943
genned-up1945
clued (up)1948
1883 Daily News 21 Sept. 2/2 People in the ‘know’ are playing with loaded dice.
1885 Times 19 Mar. 3 To those in the know the spectacle was painful in the extreme.
1926 Amer. Mercury Apr. 399/2 Halsted's clinic was regarded by those in the know as the best station for the study of the perfect healing of wounds.
1991 U.S. News & World Rep. 11 Mar. 24/1 The intelligence operatives..fled Kuwait at the earliest sign of trouble, leaving behind them those who were not in the know.
2002 B. Hoey Her Majesty xix. 282 This was the view of a man in the know, who occupied the most senior position in the royal household for thirteen years.
b. In similar constructions, as in on the know, into the know.
ΚΠ
1888 I. Zangwill Premier & Painter vii. 169 I am going to let you into the know, for I'm sure you'll respect my secrets.
1899 C. Rook Hooligan Nights xv. 176 On'y our own partic'ler pals on each side should be let into the know.
1915 Pearson's Mag. Dec. 532/2 You needn't let any one but your wife in on the know.
1929 H. J. Hultman Find the Woman 190 Nothing more has been seen or heard of Penny Wood, according to my girl friend Mirantha, and I'll back her to be in on the know.
1996 Big Issue 19 Aug. 33/3 To help you get into the shopping ‘know’, Visa Delta..has produced a priceless shopping survival handbook.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, November 2010; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

knowv.

Brit. /nəʊ/, U.S. /noʊ/
Inflections: Past tense knew Brit. /njuː/, U.S. /n(j)u/; past participle known Brit. /nəʊn/, U.S. /noʊn/;
Forms: Old English cnawan, early Middle English cnawenn ( Ormulum), early Middle English cnoswen (transmission error), early Middle English kneoweð (imperative plural), Middle English cnaue, Middle English cnav, Middle English cnawe, Middle English cnoue, Middle English cnouue, Middle English cnow, Middle English cnowe, Middle English gnaw, Middle English kanaw, Middle English kanv, Middle English kaw (transmission error), Middle English kna, Middle English knau, Middle English knaue, Middle English knauve, Middle English knauwe, Middle English knav, Middle English knave, Middle English knewe, Middle English knoe, Middle English knoȝ, Middle English knogh, Middle English knoheth (3rd singular indicative), Middle English knoo, Middle English knouu, Middle English knov, Middle English knove, Middle English konowe, Middle English–1500s knawe, Middle English–1500s knou, Middle English–1500s knoue, Middle English–1600s knaw, Middle English–1600s kno, Middle English–1600s knowe, Middle English– know, 1500s knowne (perhaps transmission error), 1500s nawe, 1600s kno'; English regional 1700s– kna (northern), 1700s– knaw, 1800s kneaw (Lancashire), 1800s knoa (Lancashire), 1800s knoan (Lancashire), 1800s knoow (Lancashire), 1800s nah (Westmorland), 1800s naw (Devon), 1800s– knaa (northern), 1800s– knaow (Worcestershire), 1800s– knoaw (Sussex), 1800s– knoo (Leicestershire), 1800s– known (Lancashire), 1800s– na' (Surrey), 1800s– naa (northern), 1800s– nao (Somerset), 1800s– naoh (Yorkshire), 1800s– neaw (Lancashire), 1800s– noa (Cheshire), 1800s– noau (Somerset); Scottish pre-1700 cnaw, pre-1700 cnou, pre-1700 cnow, pre-1700 kenaw, pre-1700 kna, pre-1700 knau, pre-1700 knaue, pre-1700 knave, pre-1700 knawe, pre-1700 kno, pre-1700 knoe, pre-1700 knou, pre-1700 knov, pre-1700 knowe, pre-1700 1700s– knaw, pre-1700 1700s– know; also Irish English 1700s–1800s nouth (Wexford, 1st singular indicative), 1700s– knaw (northern), 1800s knouth (Wexford, 1st singular indicative). Past tense.

α. Old English–early Middle English cneow, Old English–early Middle English cneowan (plural indicative), late Old English cniewen (Kentish, plural indicative), early Middle English cneowæ (singular subjunctive), early Middle English cneowen (plural subjunctive), early Middle English neyȝ (transmission error), Middle English cneou, Middle English cneu, Middle English cnew, Middle English kenewe, Middle English kneew, Middle English kneȝ, Middle English kneouh, Middle English kneow, Middle English kneowe, Middle English kneuȝ, Middle English kneugh, Middle English kneuh, Middle English kneve, Middle English knewȝ, Middle English knewh, Middle English knogh, Middle English knu, Middle English knuȝ, Middle English knw, Middle English knwe, Middle English knyw, Middle English knywe, Middle English–1500s kneu, Middle English–1600s knewe, Middle English– knew; English regional 1800s– knaew (Lancashire), 1800s– knu (Westmorland), 1800s– naew (Yorkshire); Scottish pre-1700 kneu, pre-1700 knewe, pre-1700 1700s– knew, 1800s kneuw; N.E.D. (1901) also records a form Middle English knev.

β. early Middle English knowned (transmission error), Middle English knowede, Middle English–1500s (1700s– regional and nonstandard) knowed; English regional 1800s knawd, 1800s– kna't (northern), 1800s– knaw'd, 1800s– knawed, 1800s– knood (Leicestershire), 1800s– know'd, 1800s– naod (Somerset), 1800s– nawd (Northumberland), 1800s– noad (Cheshire), 1800s– noaud (Somerset); U.S. regional 1700s–1800s know'd, 1800s knowd, 1800s node; also Scottish pre-1700 knawit.

γ. English regional 1800s– known; U.S. regional 1900s– known.

δ. U.S. regional 1900s– knewn; Irish English (northern) 1800s knewn.

ε. English regional 1900s– knewd (Yorkshire); U.S. regional 1800s– knewed.

ζ. U.S. regional 1900s– know.

Past participle.

α. Old English–Middle English cnawen, Middle English cnawe, Middle English cnowe, Middle English cnowen, Middle English knauen, Middle English knauin, Middle English knaun, Middle English knaune, Middle English knaw, Middle English knawe, Middle English knawen, Middle English knawene, Middle English knawin, Middle English knawn, Middle English knawne, Middle English knawyn, Middle English knewe, Middle English knewn, Middle English kno, Middle English knovn, Middle English know, Middle English knowe, Middle English knowene, Middle English knoweyn, Middle English knowin, Middle English knowon, Middle English knowun, Middle English knowyn, Middle English knowyne, Middle English–1600s knowne, Middle English–1600s (1900s– U.S. regional) knowen, Middle English– known, 1500s knoen, 1500s knouin, 1500s–1600s knouen; English regional (chiefly northern) 1800s kna'n, 1800s kneawn (Lancashire), 1800s– knaan, 1800s– knawn, 1800s– knoan, 1800s– naoh'n, 1800s– noan (Cheshire); Scottish pre-1700 chnawyn, pre-1700 knau, pre-1700 knauen, pre-1700 knauin, pre-1700 knauing, pre-1700 knauyn, pre-1700 knaw, pre-1700 knawein, pre-1700 knawin, pre-1700 knawine, pre-1700 knawing, pre-1700 knawinge, pre-1700 knaw'n, pre-1700 knawne, pre-1700 knawyn, pre-1700 knawyne, pre-1700 knawyng, pre-1700 knayne (perhaps transmission error), pre-1700 knon, pre-1700 knouin, pre-1700 knoun, pre-1700 knoune, pre-1700 knovin, pre-1700 know, pre-1700 knowen, pre-1700 knowin, pre-1700 knowne, pre-1700 1700s knouen, pre-1700 1700s– knawn, pre-1700 1700s– known, pre-1700 1800s knawen.

β. Old English gecnawen, early Middle English ȝecnowe, early Middle English ichnowe (perhaps transmission error), early Middle English icnawan, early Middle English icuowe (transmission error), early Middle English iknewe, early Middle English iknoawen, Middle English icnawe, Middle English icnawen, Middle English icnowe, Middle English icnowen, Middle English iknawe, Middle English iknawen, Middle English iknow, Middle English iknowe, Middle English iknowen, Middle English ycnowen (in a late copy), Middle English yknawe, Middle English yknowe, Middle English yknowen, Middle English (1600s archaic) yknow, 1500s yknowne (archaic).

γ. early Middle English ycnowed, Middle English knaud, Middle English knaued, Middle English knawed, Middle English–1500s (1800s– regional and nonstandard) knowed; English regional 1800s know'd, 1800s– knaw'd (Somerset), 1800s– naod (Somerset), 1800s– noaud (Somerset); also Scottish pre-1700 knawit.

δ. 1500s–1600s knownen.

ε. 1800s knew (Manx English); U.S. regional 1800s– knew.

ζ. U.S. regional 1900s– knowned.

η. U.S. regional 1900s– knewn.

θ. U.S. regional 1900s– know.

Origin: A word inherited from Germanic.
Etymology: Cognate with Old High German -knāen (weak verb, only in the prefixed verbs biknāen beknow v., inknāen to recognize, irknāen to recognize, to perceive, to comprehend, to understand; these verbs did not survive into Middle High German, being superseded by corresponding prefixed formations in -kennen ken v.1), Old Icelandic kná (defective verb, first person singular; first person plural knegum ; past tense knátta ) to know how to do (something), to be able to < the same Indo-European base as Sanskrit jñā- to know, ancient Greek γνω- (whence reduplicated and inchoative γιγνώσκειν to recognize, know, perceive, strong aorist ἔγνων ), classical Latin gnō- (preserved in archaic forms in early Latin authors and on inscriptions, while the prevalent form in classical Latin is nō- ; seen in the inchoative gnōscere to get to know, perfect gnōvī (used chiefly with present force, ‘to have got to know’, hence ‘to know’), past participle gnōtus ‘known’), Old Church Slavonic znati , Old Russian znati to know (Russian znat′ ); a variant of the same Indo-European base is shown by can v.1 In early use probably also partly aphetic < yknow v., which is much more frequent than the simplex word in Old English.In Old English and Middle English the word partly overlapped in meaning with (etymologically unrelated) wit v.1 (now archaic or restricted to formulaic uses), and with the etymologically related verbs can n.1 (which, broadly speaking, became a modal verb) and ken v.1 (which only retained currency in Scots, where it became the usual word for ‘to know’ in all its senses). English know corresponds semantically to the senses of two or more different verbs in many other European languages: German wissen wit v.1, kennen and (with added prefix) erkennen (for both, see ken v.1), and (in part, denoting practical ‘knowing how’ of e.g. a language) können can v.1, French connaître (see conusant adj. and n.) and savoir (see savoir faire n.), classical Latin nōvisse (see above), cognōscere (see cognoscent adj.), and scīre (see science n.), and ancient Greek γιγνώσκειν (see above) and εἰδέναι (see wit v.1; 1st person singular present tense indicative οἶδα ). In sense 2 after post-classical Latin extended uses of classical Latin nōvisse and cognōscere (both in the Vulgate), in turn ultimately after corresponding extended uses of Hebrew yāda῾ to know. In sense 4b probably partly the reflex of Old English gecnāwe conscious of, acknowledging, confessing (see knows adj.). In know thyself at sense 6b after ancient Greek γνῶθι σεαυτόν (see nosce te ipsum phr.). In sense 8 chiefly after biblical Hebrew yāda῾ in its extended sense ‘to have sexual intercourse with (a person)’. This sense is also found in Hellenistic Greek and classical Latin, both in biblical texts and secular authors (e.g. Menander, Plutarch, Catullus, Ovid). The biblical use is reflected in other European languages; compare corresponding uses of e.g. Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French conoistre (second half of the 12th cent. in Anglo-Norman in this sense; Middle French, French connaître ), Middle High German, German erkennen (frequent in Luther's translation of the Bible). In sense 17a after Anglo-Norman and Middle French conoistre en to be skilled in (a subject) (1268 in Old French, used reflexively; French connaître en , used reflexively). In Old English a strong verb of Class VII. Weak forms are attested from the Middle English period onwards and are a feature of many regional varieties of English, but have not become established in the modern standard language. The regular reflexes of the historical strong verb are shown by the past tense α. forms and past participle α. forms. Fully regular weak forms are shown by past tense β. forms and past participle γ. forms. The past tense ε. forms show the weak past tense ending, but preserve the historical past tense vowel. The past tense γ. forms show levelling with the past participle forms, while the past tense δ. forms show -n from the past participle forms. The past participle ε. forms show levelling with the historical past tense forms. The past participle δ. and ζ. forms show double morphological marking (with respectively strong and weak endings). The past participle η. forms show introduction of the vowel of the strong past tense forms. The past tense ζ. forms and past participle θ. forms show levelling with the present stem. The origin of the Middle English present-stem forms with -eu- , -ew- , -eo- , -eow- is unclear. In the texts where they occur, such forms generally constitute rare minority spellings, suggesting that at least some of them may represent transmission errors. In some other cases, such forms may reflect generalization of the stem vowel ǣ from the Old English 3rd singular present indicative gecnǣwþ . The origin of the final -n in the rare English regional (Lancashire) present-tense forms knoan , known is unclear. Earlier currency of sense 11e(a) (in passive with infinitive) is perhaps implied by the following incomplete gloss:OE Aldhelm Glosses (Brussels 1650) in L. Goossens Old Eng. Glosses of MS Brussels, Royal Libr. 1650 (1974) 158 Qui.. [exercere] noscuntur : þa byð cnawene. The full text of the original Latin reads Qui..vivacis ingenii qualitatem assidua lectionis instantia exercere noscuntur , but the Latin infinitive exercere has not been glossed by the Old English glossator. In Old English the prefixed form gecnāwan yknow v. is also attested in the same senses, and is much more frequent than the simplex verb. Compare also becnāwan beknow v., oncnāwan (also acnāwan ) acknow v., tōcnāwan to recognize, distinguish, discern, to perceive, apprehend, understand (compare to- prefix2). It is unclear whether Old English and Middle English prefixed past participle forms represent the prefixed or the unprefixed verb, i.e. know v. or yknow v. (the latter remained current, although increasingly less common, until the end of the Middle English period), as formally they may belong to either. For this reason all Old English and Middle English prefixed past participle forms have been repeated in the Forms sections of both entries. The principle governing the assignment of prefixed past participle examples to senses has been to assign Old English and early Middle English examples (up to c1325) to yknow v., and later Middle English examples to know v., a division based on the relative frequency of the two verbs in the respective periods. Earlier currency of some senses of know v. (e.g. 7b, 16) may be shown by prefixed past participle examples at corresponding senses of yknow v.
I. To recognize, acknowledge, perceive.
1.
a. transitive. To perceive (a thing or person) as identical with one already perceived or considered; to recognize; to identify. Formerly frequently with for; also with by (a distinguishing feature, attribute, etc.). Cf. yknow v. 1.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > recognition > recognize, acknowledge [verb (transitive)]
acknowOE
anyeteOE
i-kenc1000
yknowOE
yknowOE
knowOE
seeOE
kenc1275
knowledgec1330
to take knowledge ofa1400
perceive1549
agnize1568
reknowledge1611
recognize1725
reconnoitre1729
identify1746
recognizate1799
OE St. Eustace (Julius) in W. W. Skeat Ælfric's Lives of Saints (1900) II. 204 Aras ða eft upp and locode wið ðæs weges, and geseah þæt þa menn wæron wið his weard; and he hi wel gecneow, ac hi ne cneowan hine.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 1314 Lamb..cann cnawenn swiþe wel Hiss moderr þær ȝho blæteþþ.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2162 Ðe .x. comen..To Iosep, and he ne knewen him nogt.
c1350 Apocalypse St. John: A Version (Harl. 874) (1961) 139 [This] bitokneþ þat oure lorde seiþ in þe godspel of þe ypocrites, ‘by her fruyt ȝee shullen knowen hem.’
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 4209 (MED) Quen his fader his kirtell kneu, Moght na gamen him com to gleu.
a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. xxvii. 366 All sone he hym withdrogh, Fro he saw that we hym knogh.
c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) lvii. 193 As sone as the lady saw Gerames she knew him, wherwith she began to chaunge coloure.
c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 109v Ector be ame of his speche Knew hym for his cousyn.
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. ccxxxij This question..whether that in the life euerlasting, we shal know one an other.
1620 T. Shelton tr. M. de Cervantes 2nd Pt. Don Quixote ii. v. 29 If in stead of a course petticoat, a farthingale and silke kirtle, and from little Mal, my Lady Whacham, the girle will not know her selfe.
1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 11 After two leagues pursuit, they knew her for a Portugall Carrack.
1694 T. D'Urfey Comical Hist. Don Quixote: Pt. 2nd iv. i. 35 Odslidikins, he shall hardly know me again.
1706 A. Pope Let. 10 Apr. in Corr. (1956) I. 16 They would not be chang'd so much, but any one would know 'em for the same at first sight.
1720 D. Defoe Mem. Cavalier 28 For four Days more I knew no Body.
1808 W. Scott Marmion vi. vii. 327 For now that sable slough is shed,..I scarcely know me in the glass.
1866 C. Kingsley Hereward the Wake I. v. 160 I knew you, in spite of your hair, by your eyes.
1867 W. D. Howells Ital. Journeys 63 I wonder how he should have known us for Americans?
1914 Elyria (Ohio) Chron. 1 Apr. 8/2 He will know her by a crescent shaped beauty mark on her lily-white shoulder.
1954 N. W. DeWitt Epicurus & his Philos. (1964) i. 20 Although men contemporary with Epicurus were incapable of recognizing him as a moral reformer, they were quick enough to know him for a dogmatist.
2006 P. C. Joern Floor of Sky 35 I heard you were coming... Good thing I was warned. I wouldn't have known you... You're all growed up.
b.
(a) transitive. To recognize or distinguish, or be able to distinguish (one thing or person) from (also †fro) (another).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > discernment, discrimination > discern [verb (transitive)] > recognize as different
sundereOE
distinct1303
knowc1330
distinguea1340
kena1400
tella1425
discern1484
distinguish1561
smell1582
discriminate1637
undifference1654
c1330 in T. Wright Polit. Songs Eng. (1839) 335 (MED) Nu ben theih so degysed and diverseliche i-diht, Unnethe may men knowe a gleman from a kniht.
1381 in R. H. Robbins Hist. Poems 14th & 15th Cent. (1959) 55 Knoweþ ȝour freend fro ȝour foo.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Fairf. 14) l. 6402 Mony..knawes noȝt þe gode fra þe ille.
?1406 T. Hoccleve La Mâle Règle l. 23 in E. P. Hammond Eng. Verse between Chaucer & Surrey (1927) 60/2 Now can I knowe feeste fro penaunce.
a1475 (?a1430) J. Lydgate tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage Life Man (Vitell.) l. 2032 (MED) I am she By whom..ye yknowe be ffrom other bestys..And seueryd in especyal.
1486 Bk. St. Albans, Her. A j How gentilmen shall be knowyn from vngentill men.
a1529 J. Skelton Colyn Cloute (?1545) sig. C.vv Some..by the barres yf her tayle Wyll knowe a Rauen from a rayle.
1594 J. Lyly Mother Bombie ii. v. sig. D3v Memph. Ile teach my wag-halter to know grapes from barley. Pris. And I mine to discerne a spigot from a faucet.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Merry Wives of Windsor (1623) iii. iii. 38 We'll teach him to know Turtles from Iayes. View more context for this quotation
1699 E. Ward London Spy I. vi. 5 The disposal of their Medicines they leave to a Boy..who scarce knows..Mint-Water from Aquafortis.
1713 A. Pope Windsor-Forest 8 Scarce could the Goddess from her Nymph be known.
1793 Britannic Mag. 1 25/2 And there's never a swab but the captain knows the stem from the stern of the ship.
1843 T. B. Macaulay Madame D'Arblay in Eclectic Mag. Apr. 451/1 Burney loved his own art passionately; and Johnson just knew the bell of Saint Clement's church from the organ.
1893 F. F. Moore I forbid Banns xxxiv. 240 She knew the flesh-formers from the fat-formers, and partook of both.
1936 M. Mitchell Gone with the Wind xxx. 509 They knew thoroughbred horses from scrubs.
1964 E. O'Brien Girls in Married Bliss x. 143 The eejit doesn't know Greeks from Blacks.
1993 C. MacDougall Lights Below 131 She knew the alcoholics from the schizophrenics and the temporary homeless from the permanent or even semi-permanent strays.
(b) transitive. In negative contexts: used in various idiomatic expressions to suggest complete ignorance, lack of skill, etc.not to know one's arse from one's elbow: see arse n. and int. Phrases 7. not to know a B from a bull's foot (or from a battledore): see B n. 2. not to know a hawk from a handsaw: see handsaw n. Phrases. not to know shit from Shinola: see Shinola n. 1Also in similar expressions indicating unfamiliarity with or ignorance of a particular person or thing, as not to know a person from Adam, not to know a person from a bar of soap: see Adam n.1 Phrases 3a, soap n.1 1g.
ΚΠ
a1640 J. Day & H. Chettle Blind-beggar (1659) sig. D4 A sort of Momes and Hoydons that know not chalk from cheese.
1640 J. Fletcher & J. Shirley Night-walker i. sig. C2v One that knowes not necke beefe from a Phesant, Nor cannot rellish Braggat from Ambrosia.
1732 T. Fuller Gnomologia 77 He knows not a Pig from a Dog.
1764 S. Foote Lyar i. 4 You would suppose him to be a physician... Does not know diascordium from diaculum. An absolute French spy, conceal'd under the shelter of a huge medicinal perriwig.
1808 R. Mant Simpliciad 31 Beggars, on lies and impudence who thrive, And cottage girls, who don't know seven from five.
1837 M. R. Mitford Country Stories 11 A shatter-brain boy who did not know a violet from a nettle.
a1854 J. F. Kelly Humors of Falconbridge (1856) 136 You're a pooty looking country jake, you are, to advertise for a dog, and don't know Chiney Terrier from a singed possum?
1939 W. Westrup in Outspan (Bloemfontein) 18 Aug. 33/1 Poachers, like as not... Comin' in and not knowin' a kudu from a duiker.
1956 ‘E. McBain’ Cop Hater (1958) viii. 75 This guy is from Squaresville, fellas, I'm telling you. He wouldn't know a ·45 from a cement mixer.
2006 New Yorker 20 Nov. 93/2 A glossary is provided for those who don't know their camshafts from their crankcases.
c. intransitive. To (be able to) distinguish between. rare before 19th cent. (chiefly colloquial in later use).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > discernment, discrimination > discern, discriminate [verb (intransitive)]
winnowc1175
deem1340
knowa1398
discerna1413
perceive1495
descry1582
distinguish1612
discriminate1645
difference1646
differentiate1855
discrepate1894
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xviii. cxvi. 1266 Wormes..perceyueþ noyse; and knoweþ bytwene sauoures.
1495 Trevisa's Bartholomeus De Proprietatibus Rerum (de Worde) iii. xix. sig. dviv By smellynge oonly he knowyth bytwene herbes good and venymous.
1802 Orthodox Churchman's Mag. July 17 Ye shall be as mighty angels, who are wise to know between good and evil.
1843 U.S. Mag. & Democratic Rev. Dec. 637/2 With all their pretensions to gallantry, they don't know between a woman and a puppet-show!
1864 J. R. Lowell Fireside Trav. 3 Let him know between the good and evil fruits.
1937 New Castle (Pa.) News 13 July 16/4 They don't know between right and wrong, surely you all do.
2000 Jakarta Post (Nexis) 8 Oct. 4 They don't know between good coffee and bad coffee, but it's because they haven't had the experience.
†2. transitive. Chiefly in biblical contexts: to take notice of, have regard for, care for; to look after, guard, protect; to regard with approval, approve. Cf. yknow v. 2. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > care, protection, or charge > care for, protect, or have charge of [verb (transitive)] > take care of or look after
yknowOE
knowlOE
to care forc1230
bihedec1250
beseec1300
to look to ——c1300
seea1325
await1393
observea1425
procurea1425
to look after ——1487
to take (also have) regard to (or of)a1500
regard1526
to see after ——1544
to look unto ——1545
attendc1572
to take care of1579
curea1618
tend1631
to look over ——1670
lOE Canterbury Psalter i. 6 Quoniam novit dominus viam iustorum et iter impiorum peribit : forðan þe dryhten cneow weig þara soþfestra & siþfet þara arleasra forwurþað.
c1350 Psalter (BL Add. 17376) in K. D. Bülbring Earliest Compl. Eng. Prose Psalter (1891) cxli. 3 In failland of me my gost, and þou knu [v.r. knew; L. cognovisti] my besties [v.r. paþes].
a1438 Bk. Margery Kempe (1940) i. 13 (MED) Many forsokyn hir þat louyd hir be-for..& wold not knowyn hir.
a1500 (c1340) R. Rolle Psalter (Univ. Oxf. 64) (1884) c. 5 The ill willid..i knew noght, that is, i fled his felaghship.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Psalms xxxi. 7 Thou hast considred my trouble, thou hast knowne my soule in aduersite.
1611 Bible (King James) Gen. xxxix. 6 And he left all that he had, in Ioseph's hand: and he knew not [L. noverat] ought he had, saue the bread which he did eate. View more context for this quotation
1679 R. South Serm. Several Occasions 37 To know in Scripture language is to approve; and so not to know, is to Reject and condemn.
†3. transitive. To recognize (a person) as having a particular status or position; to acknowledge; to admit the claims or authority of; = beknow v. 3. Formerly also †intransitive with to. Cf. yknow v. 3. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > acknowledgement or recognition > acknowledge or recognize [verb (transitive)]
yknowOE
knowc1175
yatec1175
knowledgec1225
vow1338
granta1387
kenc1400
admit1415
reknowledgec1450
acknowledge?1526
agnize1535
recognize1537
recognoscea1550
justify1600
granta1620
to take with ——a1653
recognizance1657
agnite1694
recognizate1799
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 19343 & tatt we drihhtin cnawenn rihht & þewwtenn himm to cweme.
a1250 (?c1200) St. Katherine (Titus) (1981) l. 1416 Him [sc. Christ] we kenneð & cnaweð to lauerd & to heh healend.
c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) l. 2785 (MED) But or bad he þat þider were brouth þe quen..For to se..Yif þat he hire wolde knawe.
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) 1 Thess. v. 12 We preien ȝou, that ȝe schulen knowe hem that trauelen among ȝou, and ben bifore to ȝou in the Lord.
c1400 (?c1380) Patience l. 519 Wyȝez wyl torne, & cum & cnawe me for kyng.
?a1475 Ludus Coventriae (1922) 159 (MED) Gold I gyff þe in this hall And know þe for my lorde.
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. xxxviij Thinke you that they wyll knowe or obey any ciuill Magistrate?
1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. i. vi. 224 He..Made all the Creatures know thee for their Lord, And come before thee of their owne accord.
1622 F. Bacon Hist. Raigne Henry VII 11 Fit also to reclaime them to know him for their King, whom they had so lately talked of as an Enimie.
1676 T. Comber Compan. Temple (ed. 2) i. xvii. 317 We wish all people did know and own him for their King and Governour.
1730 B. Martyn Timoleon v. iv. 65 I will bend ye all, Will make ye know, and own me for your King.
1746 H. Baker Universe 12 These know their King, perhaps, and will comply.
1840 R. H. Horne Gregory VII iii. ii. 43 Still shall my subjects know me for their king.
†4.
a. transitive. To acknowledge, confess, own, admit; = acknow v. 2, beknow v. 2. Frequently with that-clause as object. Cf. yknow v. 4a. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > acceptance, reception, or admission > accept, receive, or admit [verb (transitive)]
yknowOE
knowc1175
takec1175
undergoc1315
receive1318
takea1333
allowc1350
accept1439
admitc1449
recognize1509
concedea1513
adhibit1542
allow1548
yieldc1571
acquiescatea1586
yield1590
gratify1662
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 9818 Ne wolldenn þeȝȝ nohht cnawenn. Ne ȝatenn þatt teȝȝ wærenn ohht. Sinnfulle.
1397–8 Rolls of Parl.: Richard II (Electronic ed.) Parl. Sept. 1397 Pleas §7. m. 4 Thomas duk of Gloucestre..hathe iknowe and confessyd to fore the same William alle the matiere and pointz iwrete in this grete roulle..alle the matiers and pointz before iknowe and confessid be the foreseyd duc.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 5107 Þat we haue misdon we will knau.
a1400 (?c1300) Lay Folks Mass Bk. (Royal) (1879) l. 51 (MED) Þo preste asoyles hom..þat wil hom shryue & knowe to god þat þai are ille.
c1450 Jacob's Well (1900) 67 Knowe þi synne to vs, ȝif þou be gylty.
1467 in J. Stuart Extracts Council Reg. Aberdeen (1844) I. 27 The said Thomas sal..opynly knaw that he has offendit til him.
?1549 G. Joye Contrarye sig. ff.viv Who cometh to Christe, but he firste by Moses lawe of the preceptes: knoweth his synnes, confesseth them and repenteth?
a1579 H. Balnaves Confession of Faith (1584) iv. 11 I know my offenses: iustly haue I deserued thys punishment.
b. transitive (in passive). To make confession (of one's sins; also with object in the genitive); to acknowledge (something); = acknow v. 3. Cf. yknow v. 4c. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > acknowledgement, avowal, or confession > acknowledge, avow, or confess [verb (passive)]
knowa1200
yknowa1225
a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 123 (MED) Þe man bisecheð god þe beð is gultes cnowe and his sinnes forleteð.
a1350 in K. Böddeker Altengl. Dichtungen (1878) 258 He nolde be knowe for no þyng þat hit wes a mayde ȝyng.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 5084 (MED) Wel am i knaun of al mi plight [a1400 Gött. I am a-knau i did vnriht].
a1425 (c1300) Assumption of Virgin (BL Add.) (1901) l. 534 Ȝif..he wille, on his last þrowe, Schryue him and ben y-knowe.
a1500 (?a1325) Otuel & Roland (1935) l. 272 (MED) Dogge, thou lyst, by seynt mychel, And that schal thou ben knowe!
c. transitive (reflexive). = sense 4d. Also with complement: to confess or acknowledge oneself to be (what is expressed by the complement). Cf. yknow v. 4b, knowledge v. 2a. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > acknowledgement, avowal, or confession > acknowledge, avow, or confess [verb (reflexive)]
yknowOE
knowa1250
a1250 (?c1200) St. Katherine (Titus) (1981) l. 94 (MED) Al ha cneowen [c1225 Royal i-cneowen] ham crauant & ouercumen, & cweðen hire þe meistrie & te menske al up.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Fairf. 14) l. 26959 Qua buxumli. him-self knawes [Vesp. be-knaus] sal haue mercy.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 18488 Loues nu vr lauerd dright, And knau yow til him o yur plight.
1478 in E. Hobhouse Church-wardens' Accts. (1890) 7 Comes..and cnowth hym dettar to the Cherch for his servant xxd.
a1500 in W. B. D. D. Turnbull Visions of Tundale (1843) 148 Sey ye with hym Confiteor Or ellis in Ynglysch thus therfor I know me to God.
d. intransitive. To make confession, to confess; to make an admission or acknowledgement. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > acknowledgement, avowal, or confession > acknowledge, avow, or confess [verb (intransitive)]
to be beknowna1300
acknowc1300
knowledgec1384
knowa1400
confess1587
subscribea1616
own1772
testify1785
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 18488 Louis nu vr lauerd dright, An knau til him of ȝur plight.
c1400 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Trin. Cambr. R.3.14) (1960) A. xi. l. 281 For he kneuȝ on þe crois & to crist shref hym.
†5. transitive. To have awareness of by means of the senses; to perceive. (In quot. c1300 intransitive) Cf. yknow v. 5. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > perceive [verb (transitive)]
acknowOE
keepc1000
feelOE
findOE
seeOE
yknowc1275
apperceivec1300
descrivec1300
knowc1300
perceivec1330
taste1340
tellc1390
catcha1398
scenta1398
devisea1400
kena1400
concernc1425
descrya1450
henta1450
apprehend1577
scerne1590
to take in1637
discreevec1650
recognize1795
absorb1840
embrace1852
cognizea1856
cognosce1874
c1300 (?c1225) King Horn (Cambr.) (1901) l. 1090 (MED) He lokede in eche halke; Ne seȝ he nowhar walke Aþulf his felawe, Þat he cuþe knowe.
c1330 (?a1300) Sir Tristrem (1886) l. 2255 Hir queynt abouen hir kne, Naked þe kniȝtes knewe.
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. iii. xxi. 120 Þe siȝt knowiþ hewe and colour and þe taast knowiþ sauour.
?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) i. l. 1680 Corrineus..bussed þam on a rowe þat þe Frankisse kouth þam not knowe.
c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. xi. 225 (MED) In her [sc. the poor's] lyknesse owre lorde ofte hath ben y-knowe.
c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) l. 63 He saȝe þam in þe hiȝe see..Carrygis comand he knew keruand þe ithis.
c1475 ( Surg. Treat. in MS Wellcome 564 f. 67 (MED) But if it so be þat þe wounde be a-cumbrid wiþ myche blood or wiþ myche fleisch, þanne it mai not be y-knowen sumtyme neiþer by seynge ne by felynge.
II. To be acquainted with, have experience of.
6.
a. transitive. To be acquainted with (a thing, place, or person); to be familiar with by experience; to have learned of by report or through the acquisition of information; (also) to have or gain such familiarity with (something) as gives understanding or insight. Cf. yknow v. 6a.In the passive with experiencing agent introduced either by by or (more often) by to (cf. to prep. 33b; cf. also unknown adj. 2c); also (Police slang) with agent unexpressed, short for to be known to the police at Phrases 26.to know like the back of one's hand: see back n.1 4a. to know like a book: see to read (also know) like a book at book n. Phrases 2m.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > be skilled or versed in [verb (transitive)]
witOE
knowOE
underfoa1300
practa1513
skill?1529
to be au fait in or ata1743
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > knowledge, what is known > familiarity > know, be conversant with [verb (transitive)]
witc888
yknoweOE
witOE
canOE
knowOE
kenc1330
acquainta1393
quaint1509
understand1541
to summer and winter1602
possess1607
the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > make friends with [verb (transitive)] > make acquaintance > know or be acquainted with
canOE
knowOE
kenc1420
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > scholarly knowledge, erudition > know thoroughly [verb (transitive)]
knowc1390
OE Vitellius Psalter ix. 17 Cognoscętur dominus iudicia faciens : cnawen drihten domas donde.
c1200 ( West Saxon Gospels: John (Hatton) xiv. 9 Se hælend cwæð to him, Philippus, swa lange tid ic wæs mid eow & ge ne cneowan [OE Corpus Cambr. gecneowun] me.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 2308 Ne þas strond we ne cnoweð þe we isoht habbeð.
1387–8 Petition London Mercers in Rotuli Parl. (1767–77) III. 225/2 Suche that wolde nought her falsnesse had be knowen to owre lige Lorde.
c1390 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Vernon) (1867) A. ii. l. 202 He kennede him in heore craft and kneuȝ mony gummes.
c1405 (c1387–95) G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 240 He knew the tauernes wel in euery town.
c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) Prol. l. 112 (MED) He wolde that to hyȝe and lowe The noble story openly wer knowe.
1485 W. Caxton in Malory's Morte Darthur Pref. sig. ij Alysaunder the grete, &..Iulyus Cezar..of whome thystoryes ben wel kno and had.
1570–6 W. Lambard Perambulation Kent (1826) 475 Assured that the Inwardes of each place may best be knowen by such as reside therein.
1582 A. Munday Breefe Aunswer sig. C.viii Canisius dictates, whose writing is verie well known to our learned Diuines heere in England.
1587 R. Rogers Diary 16 Dec. in M. M. Knappen Two Elizabethan Puritan Diaries (1933) 71 By some envious persons—I shall knowe them better hereafter—there is a plattforme layd.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Merry Wives of Windsor (1623) ii. ii. 176 You haue been a man long knowne to me, though I had neuer so good means as desire, to make my selfe acquainted with you. View more context for this quotation
1637 J. Milton Comus 11 I know each lane, and every alley greene..Of this wild wood.
1686 F. Spence tr. A. Varillas Ἀνεκδοτα Ἑτερουιακα 22 There are Connexions..in point of Traffick, which are only well known by those that meddle that way.
1710 J. Addison Tatler No. 192. ⁋5 A Story that is very well known in the North of England.
1745 Earl of Chesterfield Let. in Private Corr. Chesterfield & Newcastle 1744–46 (1930) 54 The proposals of the Republick were already known to the Court of France.
1755 A. Stephen Let. 27 Sept. in G. Washington Papers (1983) II. 64 The Man is well known by Several in the Garrison.
1799 H. Neuman tr. F.-A.-F. de La Rochefoucauld-Liancourt Trav. through United States N. Amer. I. 65 I merely know him from his correspondence with me, which is highly polite and elegant.
1800 Med. & Physical Jrnl. 4 400 The external use of cold water has been known and practised from the earliest periods.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. iii. 365 Whoever could make himself agreeable to the prince,..might hope to rise in the world..without being even known by sight to any minister of state.
1896 Argosy Jan. 350/1 The extensive vogue the sport of pigeon flying has lately attained is known to few.
1909 J. Galsworthy Silver Box iii. 75 Is she known here?.. No, your Worship, they're neither of them known, we've nothing against them at all.
1920 O. W. Holmes Let. 30 Aug. (1953) I. 277 One is that you refer to things not generally known by your readers without explanation.
1949 E. Goudge Gentian Hill i. vii. 120 The old song ‘Drops of Brandy’ that Zachary knew only too well from hearing the sailors singing it at grogtime.
1971 E. McGirr ‘No Better Fiend’ 69 The late Mantel had been ‘known’ since 1928. It was a dismal dirty story.
1982 ‘E. Peters’ Virgin in Ice i. 19 In your unregenerate youth I suppose you must have known that city well?
2004 N.Y. Times Mag. 5 Sept. 22/1 Instead of being known by everybody, the mini-brand is known to a very specific and even rarefied group of somebodies.
b. transitive (reflexive). To have understanding of or insight into one's own person, personality, etc., esp. as arrived at through philosophical introspection. Frequently in imperative as know thyself (cf. nosce te ipsum phr.). Cf. yknow v. 6b.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > knowledge, what is known > familiarity > self-knowledge > know oneself [verb (transitive)]
knowa1200
yknowa1250
a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 123 þe man cnoweð him seluen þe þencheð of wu medeme þinge he is shapen.
c1390 in C. Brown Relig. Lyrics 14th Cent. (1924) 139 Vche cristne creature knowen himself ouȝt.
1484 W. Caxton tr. Subtyl Historyes & Fables Esope ii. xvii. f. liv Who that knoweth hym self wel, lytel he preyseth hym self.
?1527 T. Berthelet tr. Erasmus Dicta Sapientium sig. A3 v Nosce te ipsum, know thy selfe.
1594 T. Bowes tr. P. de la Primaudaye French Acad. II. 188 The ignorant person that knoweth not himselfe..is as vnteachable a beast as can be.
a1640 P. Massinger Bashful Lover iv. i. 157 in 3 New Playes (1655) Do I know my self? I kept that for the Lenvoy.
1691 J. Dunton Voy. round World III. i. 312 Socrates that taught, Nosce Teipsum; learnt likewise to know himself.
1745 J. Mason Self-knowl. i. xv. 129 A Man that knows himself will have a Regard to the Furniture of his Memory.
1755 J. Grainger Solitude in R. Dodsley Coll. Poems 241 Then know thyself, the human mind survey... Hence Inspiration plans his manner'd lays.
1849 E. Bulwer-Lytton Caxtons III. xvi. x. 183 ‘Know thyself,’ said the old philosophy. ‘Improve thyself,’ saith the new.
1860 E. B. Pusey Minor Prophets 455 In order to repent, a man must know himself thoroughly.
1929 A. Huxley Let. 7 Jan. (1969) 306 ‘Know thyself’ was probably one of the stupidest pieces of advice ever given.
1990 L. Barber in Sunday Rev. 19 Aug. 12/3 He is a man who knows himself—‘centred’, as the Americans say.
2005 Y. Shmul & R. Peltier Make it Big with Yuvi iv. 60 These types of businesses simply may not fit you. Know thyself and don't get stuck on one industry.
c. transitive. With as. To be familiarly acquainted with by a particular name or designation. Frequently in passive, as to be known as: to be generally or usually called.Also known as is now frequently abbreviated to a.k.a.: see A n. Initialisms.
ΚΠ
1633 in Quarter Sessions Rec. (N. Riding Rec. Soc.) (1886) IV. 161 A parcell of ground known as Iselbecke Acres in Kirkby Knowle.
1798 J. S. Murray Virtue Triumphant ii. 41 Eliza. You do me honour, Madam. Mrs. B. Madam! Why that formal appellation? Let me be known as your Augusta.
1812 Salem Gaz. 27 Mar. 2 This furnishes a name for our district, which will henceforth be known as the Gerrymander District.
1838 A. Jameson Winter Stud. & Summer Rambles Canada II. 116 The white and yellow and purple cyprepedium, bordered the path. [Note] The Indians know it as the moccasin flower.
1845 G. L. Craik Sketches Hist. Lit. & Learning Eng. V. 150 That remarkable body of national song known as the Jacobite minstrelsy.
1887 Co-operative News 18 242 The timbers..are not what is technically known as ‘blue’.
1923 J. L. Street Mysterious Japan ix. 103 The kind of wrestling known as sumo still maintains its ancient prestige as the national sport.
1953 A. Jobson Househ. & Country Crafts ii. 28 Another speciality..was the harvest-cake or biscuit, also known as a bever cake.
1970 W. H. Parker Health & Dis. Farm Animals xx. 268 This is the first sign of the disease known as Husk, or Verminous Bronchitis.
2005 New Yorker 18 Apr. 60/1 Millions of Americans knew her as ‘the Nut Lady’ from her periodic guest appearances on the ‘Tonight Show’.
7.
a. transitive. To be personally acquainted with (a person); to be familiar or intimate with. Formerly also: †to become acquainted with (obsolete). Cf. yknow v. 7a.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > make friends with [verb (transitive)] > make acquaintance
yknowOE
knowc1175
strike1595
to get to knowa1622
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 12698 Sannt iohan bapptisste..cneow himm wel.
c1350 Psalter (BL Add. 17376) in K. D. Bülbring Earliest Compl. Eng. Prose Psalter (1891) xvii. 48 (MED) Þe folk þat ich knewe nouȝt serued me.
c1390 Pistel of Swete Susan (Vernon) l. 170 Hir kinrede, hir cosyns and al þat hire knewe.
c1405 (c1385) G. Chaucer Knight's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 345 Duc Perotheus loued wel Arcite And hadde hym knowe at Thebes yeer by yere.
a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) I. 259 I knowe your fadir well.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII f. ccxliiij [He] curssed the tyme that euer he knewe Doctor Barnes.
?1578 W. Patten Let. Entertainm. Killingwoorth 1 I am..acquainted with the most, and well knoen too the best, and euery officer glad of my company.
1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet v. i. 180 Alas poore Yoricke, I knew him Horatio. View more context for this quotation
1726 Four Years Voy. Capt. G. Roberts 313 [He asked] If I was acquainted with any of the Signores of the City? I told him, I knew some of them.
1761 D. Hume Let. 29 June (1932) I. 345 I have known Mr Cummin for some time, and have esteemd him a young Man of exceeding good Capacity.
1844 C. E. A. Young Communicants (1848) 12 As head monitress I know them both very well.
1872 W. Coleman in Rep. 42nd U.S. Congress 2 Sess. Joint Sel. Comm. Condition of Affairs Late Insurrectionary States XI. 484 Of course I knowed him.
1892 Mrs. H. Ward David Grieve III. 131 As to knowing people, you won't take any trouble at all!
1932 G. Greene Stamboul Train ii. i. 54 He had known every inhabitant with an intimacy which they would have thought dangerous if they had not so implicitly trusted him.
1998 I. Welsh Filth 114 Like at that Princess Diana's funeral, they want to scrutinise those who really knew her.
†b. transitive. In passive. To be personally acquainted or on familiar terms with. Cf. yknow v. 7b. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > be friendly [verb] > be personally acquainted or on familiar terms
yknowc1225
knowc1400
to be fellow-well-met1858
c1400 Brut (Rawl. B. 171) 121 (MED) This Walgar was wel knowen wiþ þe Kyng.
?a1450 (?c1400) Comm. Ave Maria (Lamb.) in Lay Folks' Catech. (1901) 12 He was homly and knowyn with þis lady.
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. cxvijv He was so well knowen with the Emperour Soliman.
1572 (a1500) Taill of Rauf Coilȝear (1882) 532 ‘I am knawin with the Quene,’ said Schir Rolland.
†c. intransitive. Of two persons: to be mutually acquainted. Also with together. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > be friendly [verb (intransitive)] > become mutually acquainted
acquaintc1350
know1601
quaint1606
to fall in1808
to pick up1838
1601 B. Jonson Fountaine of Selfe-love iv. iii. sig. H I neuer saw him till this morning, and he salutes me as familiarly, as if we had knowne together, since the first yeare of the siege of Troy. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Antony & Cleopatra (1623) ii. vi. 85 You, and I haue knowne sir. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Cymbeline (1623) i. iv. 33 Sir, we haue knowne togither in Orleance.
d. transitive. To be familiar with the habits, preferences, behaviour, etc., of (a person).Chiefly in introductory or parenthetical statements, as you know me, knowing you, etc.
ΚΠ
1853 C. Dickens Bleak House xxvii. 272 You know me. It's my old girl that advises. She has the head.
1906 U. Sinclair Jungle xxiv. 280 Think I'm drunk, dontcha, hey?—I know you!
1944 H. Treece Let. in How I see Apocalypse (1946) 41 If you've read as far as this—which I rather doubt, knowing you—you will probably wonder what I'm getting at.
1967 Listener 19 Jan. 90/2 Stuffing the keyhole with cotton-wool, which she then fastened with adhesive tape so that Rodney could not poke it out with a knitting-needle... She knew him!
1988 J. Neel Death's Bright Angel i. 7 Coffee? Or breakfast? Breakfast, knowing you.
2003 C. Birch Turn again Home vi. 89 ‘You know me, Sam,’ Bennet said, lighting another cigarette, ‘I was never a one for getting down in the dumps.’
8. transitive. To be sexually intimate with; esp. to have sexual intercourse with. Now chiefly archaic or with explicit adverb, as carnally, physically, etc.to know in the biblical sense: see biblical adj. Additions.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual activity > engage in sexual activity with [verb (transitive)] > have sexual intercourse with
mingeOE
haveOE
knowc1175
ofliec1275
to lie with (or by)a1300
knowledgec1300
meetc1330
beliea1350
yknowc1350
touchc1384
deala1387
dightc1386
usea1387
takec1390
commona1400
to meet witha1400
servea1400
occupy?a1475
engender1483
jangle1488
to be busy with1525
to come in1530
visitc1540
niggle1567
mow1568
to mix one's thigh with1593
do1594
grind1598
pepper1600
yark1600
tumble1603
to taste of1607
compressc1611
jumble1611
mix?1614
consort?1615
tastea1616
bumfiddle1630
ingressa1631
sheet1637
carnal1643
night-work1654
bump1669
bumble1680
frig?c1680
fuck1707
stick1707
screw1719
soil1722
to do over1730
shag1770
hump1785
subagitatec1830
diddle1879
to give (someone) onec1882
charver1889
fuckeec1890
plugc1890
dick1892
to make a baby1911
to know (a person) in the biblical sense1912
jazz1920
rock1922
yentz1924
roll1926
to make love1927
shtupa1934
to give (or get) a tumble1934
shack1935
bang1937
to have it off1937
rump1937
tom1949
to hop into bed (with)1951
ball1955
to make it1957
plank1958
score1960
naughty1961
pull1965
pleasurea1967
to have away1968
to have off1968
dork1970
shaft1970
bonk1975
knob1984
boink1985
fand-
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 2406 Ȝho..seȝȝde. Hu maȝȝ þiss forþedd ben þurrh me. Þatt nan weppmann ne cnawe?
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1959) Gen. iv. 1 Adam forsoþ knew [L. cognovit] Eue his wyf.
a1400 (c1300) Northern Homily: Serm. on Gospels (Coll. Phys.) in Middle Eng. Dict. at Fleshli(che It was igain the lawe, His brother wif fleyslic to knawe.
?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) ii. 155 He stode, & proued it..Þat his fader Henry þat ilk Aleyse had knowen.
a1475 Asneth l. 682 in Jrnl. Eng. & Germanic Philol. (1910) 9 254 (MED) And after Ioseph knewe his wyf, sche conceived sone.
1535 G. Joye Apol. Tindale sig. G.ij Before she knew (that is) slept with hir howsbonde.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Richard III f. lvj How to stuprate and carnally know his awne nece vnder the pretence of a cloked matrimony.
a1616 W. Shakespeare All's Well that ends Well (1623) v. iii. 289 By Ioue if euer I knew man 'twas you. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Measure for Measure (1623) v. i. 199 That is Angelo, Who thinkes he knowes, that he nere knew my body. View more context for this quotation
a1627 T. Middleton No Wit (1657) ii. 60 Will you swear here, you never yet knew woman?
1702 S. Centlivre Beau's Duel v. 50 Sir, she has known Men of all Nations, and lain in by two Parts of the Map, Africa and America.
1737 Fatal Consequences Domestick Divisions 57 He set forth in his Petition, that he had carnally known her, and that she had made him a Promise of Marriage before he was contracted to the Earl.
1826 Lancet 19 Aug. 661/1 She maintained, in the most positive language, ‘that she had never known the man’.
1864 in T. P. Lowry Story Soldiers wouldn't Tell (1994) xiii. 136 [He did] forcibly and unlawfully ravish and carnally know Mrs. Farmer, against the will of said Catherine Farmer.
1908 W. Campbell Mordred ii. v, in Poet. Trag. 59 He who plucks it forth Must be a knight who hath not known a woman, Save in the lawful mode of marriage bed.
a1930 D. H. Lawrence Phoenix (1936) iv. 500 Jude's marriage with Sue was over before he knew her physically.
1947 M. Samuel Web of Lucifer 158 Fra Timoteo had observed Alberto..and thought him so beautiful that he swore to himself that he must know him carnally.
1970 New Yorker 10 Oct. 49/1 I would often say to myself, ‘That was before I knew Flora.’ I had only known her on two occasions.
2002 N. J. Duff in B. R. Gaventa & C. L. Rigby Blessed One v. 65 The angel tells Mary (a woman who has known no man) that she will bear a son.
9. transitive. To have personal experience of (something) as affecting oneself; to have experienced, met with, felt, or undergone. Also figurative of inanimate things. Esp. in negative contexts.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > knowledge, what is known > experience > [verb (transitive)]
haveeOE
cuneOE
supOE
yfeeleOE
afondOE
canOE
seeOE
knowc1175
provea1200
feelc1225
passa1325
fraistc1330
wielda1375
wita1450
experiment1484
approve1578
experiencea1586
resent1595
fand-
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 2427 Ȝho..Nohht naffde inn hire wille. To cnawenn aniȝ macchess stren. Forr swa to be wiþþ childe.
c1330 (?a1300) Sir Tristrem (1886) l. 2486 (MED) Vnder wode bouȝ Þai knewen day and niȝt.
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) Prol. l. 106 Justice of lawe tho was holde..The citees knewen no debat.
c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) iv. l. 2554 (MED) Þei of Troye gan his swerd knowe, Whiche was of newe infect with her blood.
1562 W. Bullein Dial. Sorenes f. viii, in Bulwarke of Defence No manne knoweth the griefe of a straight shooe, but the wearer therof.
1588 T. Hariot Briefe Rep. Virginia sig. C3 Their bodies are notably preserued in health, & know not many greeuous diseases.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) i. iii. 16 In hauing knowne no trauaile in his youth. View more context for this quotation
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 112 Whole Months they wander, grazing as they go; Nor Folds, nor hospitable Harbour know . View more context for this quotation
1759 S. Johnson Idler 5 May 137 Some [publishers] never had known such a dead time.
1778 C. Reeve Old Eng. Baron 157 From that fatal hour I have never known peace.
1822 W. Herbert Weird Wanderer of Jutland iv. i. 85 That sound sleep which knows no waking.
1879 R. K. Douglas Confucianism iii. 71 Running water which knows no stagnation.
1896 A. E. Housman Shropshire Lad l. 76 And lads knew trouble at Knighton When I was a Knighton lad.
1936 J. Buchan Island of Sheep viii. 154 The purple gloom which is all the night that Laverlaw knows in early July.
1947 L. Z. Hobson Gentleman's Agreement iii. 44 She had undoubtedly known pain—what human being could finish nearly three decades and be a stranger to it?
2001 Guardian 26 June i. 17/1 The only 26-year-old woman who has never known a moment's doubt about her own attractiveness.
III. To (come to) apprehend, be or become conversant with or aware of; to learn.
10.
a. transitive. To be or have become conversant with (a body of facts, principles, a method of action, etc.), esp. through instruction, study, or practice; esp. to have a good command or practical understanding of (a subject, language, etc.); to have learnt by study or practical experience; to be versed or skilled in. Formerly also: †to acquire skill or competence in, to learn (obsolete). Cf. yknow v. 9.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > understand [verb (transitive)]
yknoweOE
acknowOE
anyeteOE
latchc1000
undernimc1000
understandc1000
underyetec1000
afindOE
knowOE
seeOE
onfangc1175
takec1175
underfindc1200
underfonga1300
undertakea1300
kenc1330
gripea1340
comprehend1340
comprendc1374
espyc1374
perceivea1387
to take for ——?1387
catcha1398
conceivea1398
intenda1400
overtakea1400
tenda1400
havec1405
henta1450
comprise1477
skilla1500
brook1548
apprend1567
compass1576
perstanda1577
endue1590
sound1592
engrasp1593
in1603
fathom1611
resent1614
receivea1616
to take up1617
apprehend1631
to take in1646
grasp1680
understumblec1681
forstand1682
savvy1686
overstand1699
uptake1726
nouse1779
twig1815
undercumstand1824
absorb1840
sense1844
undercumstumble1854
seize1855
intelligize1865
dig1935
read1956
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > scholarly knowledge, erudition > intellectual command, mastery > have mastery of [verb]
canOE
knowc1300
to be mistress ofc1440
possess1607
soak1937
society > education > learning > [verb (transitive)]
learnc900
undernimc1000
lerec1220
knowc1390
apprehenda1398
geta1400
learna1400
to take forth1530
to take out1550
OE Stowe Psalter lxx. 15 Non cognoui litteraturam : na ic na cneow stæfgefeg.
c1300 St. Bartholomew (Laud) l. 57 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 368 (MED) Ech-manere speche þat is, he knoweth [a1325 Corpus Cambr. knouþ] and speket al-so.
c1390 Pistel of Swete Susan (Vernon) l. 24 Þus thei lerne hire þe lawe, Cleer Clergye to knawe.
a1400 tr. Lanfranc Sci. Cirurgie (Ashm.) (1894) 20 (MED) Galienus seiþ, þat it is nessessarie a surgian to knowe anotamie.
?a1450 tr. Lanfranc Sci. Cirurgie (BL Add. 12056) 52 Þilke veyne þou schalt y-knowe ȝif þat þou knowist plenerlyche Anotamye.
a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1960) xii. vii. l. 34 [He] had levyr haue knawyn the sciens and the lair, The myght and fors of strenthy herbys fyne.
1598 J. Florio Worlde of Wordes Well to know Italian is a grace of all graces.
1639 P. Massinger Unnaturall Combat i. i. sig. B3 Nay if a velvet peticote move in the front Buffe jerkins must to the rere, I know my manners.
1649 Bp. J. Taylor Great Exemplar Disc. iii. §21 In other sciences the terms must first be known and then the rules, and conclusions scientificiall.
1738 S. Johnson London 10 All Sciences a fasting Monsieur knows.
1762 O. Goldsmith Citizen of World I. 266 To know one profession only, is enough for one man to know.
1808 W. Scott Marmion i. viii. 30 Each, chosen for an archer good, Knew hunting-craft by lake or wood.
1818 M. M. Sherwood Stories Church Catech. (ed. 4) x. 83 Know you not the commandments of God?
1871 ‘L. Carroll’ Through Looking-glass ix. 192 Of course you know your ABC.
1906 A. Conan Doyle Sir Nigel xi. 138 A huntsman would have said that he had seen a pride of lions, and so proved that he knew the language of the chase.
1936 Punch 10 June 654/2 Those who do not know German..have to collect the sense [of the film] through captions in our own tongue.
1996 T. Clancy Executive Orders liii. 721 Come on, General, you know better. You know history.
2002 Evening Standard 17 Sept. 5/2 The hapless player's manager..admitted that his man in the number one shirt did not know the rules of football.
b. transitive. To understand or have learnt (a stated amount) about or of a particular subject.
ΚΠ
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 16202 Alls iff þeȝȝ wærenn þine menn..& teȝȝ ne cnawenn nohht off þe, Ne nohht off all þin birde.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 559 (MED) He knoweþ nouȝt of þat kraft, bi krist, as I trowe.
a1425 (c1385) G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde (Corpus Cambr. 61) (1894) ii. l. 860 Wech maner folk I gesse Defamen loue, as nothing of hym knowe.
1490 W. Caxton tr. Eneydos xxii. sig. Fvv A messager whiche is sent ther, whiche haply shalle knowe nothing of the matere.
1537 tr. Original & Sprynge All Sectes viii. 45v They knowe nothynge of the Newyeare, Candelmasse & such lyke dayes.
1654 E. Nicholas Papers (1892) II. 61 I know nothing of all the money he hath received,..which I assure you have not been inconsiderable sums.
1670 Excellent Introd. Archit. To Rdr. sig. A3 All those that make Profession of entring upon Designs, ought to know somthing of Geometry.
1698 J. Norris Pract. Disc. Divine Subj. IV. 246 They..know nothing of the Place and State whither they are going, the dark invisible Hades.
1766 J. Wesley Let. 12 Sept. (1931) V. 26 Your companions know nothing about it but by those surmisings with which God is not well pleased.
1774 Pennsylvania Gaz. 16 Sept. 2/3 (advt.) He..speaks pretty good English, is apt to talk.., but knows very little about milling, flatting or farming.
1854 M. Cummins Lamplighter xix. 119 She doesn't know anything about nursing.
1887 M. E. Braddon Like & Unlike I. iii. 78 I know something about navigating a yacht.
1895 R. Kipling Second Jungle Bk. 148 The boy knows something of dog-driving.
1924 Amer. Mercury Sept. 14/1 I know nothing of pomology or of the flora of the Meuse.
1967 M. Stand Diana is Dead vii. 104 You seem to know a lot about crookery.
1996 K. Maristed Fall 4 ‘A. Heely’ knew zilch about horses except that sheer size plus dumb equals dangerous.
c. transitive. To be able to recall (a text, one's part in a play, etc.) exactly; to have committed to memory. Originally to know by rote (see rote n.1 1b), to know by heart (see heart n., int., and adv. Phrases 1c).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > memory > retention in the mind > memorization > memorize, learn by heart [verb (transitive)] > know by heart
to can by heartc1405
to know by rotea1450
a1450 Partonope of Blois (Univ. Coll. Oxf.) (1912) l. 5925 (MED) Alle maner of Spyces I know by rote, How in phisike they haue her worching.
1526 W. Tyndale Prol. Epist. Rom. sig. a ij I thinke it mete that every christen man..knowe it by roote and with oute the boke.
1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes ii. f. 241 To knowe by herte the names, ordres and degrees of all persones.
1604 E. Grimeston tr. J. de Acosta Nat. & Morall Hist. Indies vi. viii. 450 A kinde of writing with small stones, by meanes whereof, they learne punctually the words they desire to know by heart.
1652 C. Manuche Loyal Lovers iv. 38 When I know my part, let me alone to act.
1706 S. Centlivre Basset-table iii. 39 Come, Dear Sago, sit down—and let the Play begin—Buckle knows his Part, and upon Necessity cou'd Act yours too my Lord.
1785 T. Holcroft Choleric Fathers ii. 36 Sir, if you knew the letter by rote, you could not better divine its purport.
1819 Ld. Byron Don Juan: Canto I xi. 8 Her memory was a mine; she knew by heart All Calderon and greater part of Lopé.
1855 E. B. Pusey Doctr. Real Presence Note S. 602 Sozomen mentions a celebrated Ascetic..who..knew the Holy Scriptures by heart.
1864 A. B. Longstreet Master William Mitten i. 8 He told him that the next time he came to recite without knowing his lesson, he would correct him.
1925 H. L. Andrews & B. Weirick Acting & Play Production iii. 86 Once the actor knows the sort of play he is in, and knows his lines, he is ready to go about the business of creating his rôle.
1953 A. Hosain Phoenix Fled 178 I know the Penal Code by heart, but I still may have overlooked some tiny point.
2001 E. Kelly in M. Hickey Irish Days (2004) 97 What does an actor have to do? One time a director said, ‘Be on time and know your lines.’
11. To be aware or apprised of (something, typically a fact expressed propositionally), esp. through observation, inquiry, or information. In early use sometimes: †to get to understand, to find out, learn (obsolete). Cf. yknow v. 10b.
a. transitive. With an indirect statement.
(a) With clause as object, usually introduced by that. Sometimes (now only in passive) with it (or †that) followed by that-clause. Cf. yknow v. 10a.In quot. a1400 in passive in same sense.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > know, be aware of [verb (transitive)]
witc888
underyetec893
knowOE
acknowOE
understanda1000
seeOE
awitc1200
wota1300
beknowc1300
kena1400
cognizance1642
suppose1843
OE Vercelli Homilies (1992) vii. 136 Þonne cnawest ðu þæt hie bioð halran & cafran þonne þa weras þe on idelnesse lifiað.
c1175 ( Homily (Bodl. 343) in S. Irvine Old Eng. Homilies (1993) 142 Ne durste þe deofel fondien hine ȝif he ful ȝeare ne cneowæ þæt he nære [read wære] soð mon.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 19668 Itt seȝȝþ þatt crist itt wisste wel & cnew itt wel wiþþ alle..Þatt tatt farisewisshe follc Ȝæn himm wass wurrþenn bollȝhenn.
a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 127 Þo nam he geme of mannes liflode and cnew þat here dedes weren iuele.
a1325 (c1280) Southern Passion (Pepys 2344) (1927) l. 280 Þe pharisees..Hurde oure lordes tale. Hi knewe wel þat þo, Þat he sede þat by ham.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) l. 1905 Þenne was noe wel I knawe þat þe flood hit was wiþdrawe.
1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) iii. l. 273 I knaw he will do mekill for his kyne.
?1492 tr. Reuelacions St. Elysabeth of Hungarye (de Worde) sig. qij/1 And thenne that soule knowed that she hath noo thyng doun pleasyng to god.
1528 W. Tyndale That Fayth Mother of All Good Workes f. xxijv For if we be worldly mynded and doe our workes as the world doth, howe shall we knowe that god hath chosen vs oute of the worlde?
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. ccclxxv You knowe, howe they were both letted by the war..and..also by sicknes.
1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet iv. iii. 69 Till I know tis done, How ere my haps, my ioyes will nere begin.
1639 R. Sydney Let. 15 Feb. in 12th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1889) II. App. ii. 213 I do not think that it was ever known that one who had the honour to be the King's ambassador should be recalled without his Majesty's recredential letters.
1667 S. Pepys Diary 27 July (1974) VIII. 355 He says that the Duke of York is suspected..and says that he doth know that he is wronged therein.
1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 415. ⁋3 I know there are Persons who look upon some of these Wonders of Art as Fabulous.
a1719 J. Addison Dialogues Medals in Wks. (1721) I. i. 437 You do not know but it may have its usefulness.
1748 S. Richardson Clarissa IV. lv. 352 I know you will expedite an answer.
1811 J. Austen Sense & Sensibility II. vii. 120 He did feel the same, Elinor—for weeks and weeks he felt it. I know he did.
1825 Times 21 Feb. 3/3 He knowed that he cou'dna do without his Bessy.
1889 J. K. Jerome Three Men in Boat 275 I know for a fact that they are there.
1922 T. M. Lowry Inorg. Chem. xliii. 860 It has long been known that many chemical changes are promoted by the action of light.
1965 Gettysburg (Pa.) Times 11 Aug. 6/2 US and South Vietnamese planes drop their bombs on these areas knowing that the Viet Cong are there.
1980 A. Maupin More Tales of City 14 She burst into tears and ran from the kitchen. He knew she would lock herself in the bedroom and sulk.
2007 Daily Tel. 4 Apr. 22/2 It was reassuring to know that consultants and resuscitation equipment were to hand.
(b) In imperative, with that-clause as object, introducing a statement, announcement, piece of news, etc. Now archaic.
ΚΠ
?1473 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre Recuyell Hist. Troye (1894) I. lf. 30 v Knowe that I am come to take possession of thy kyngdom.
1552 J. Caius Bk. against Sweatyng Sicknesse f. 9 Know that this disease..was called here, the Sweating sickenesse.
1598 J. Marston Scourge of Villanie In Lectores sig. B2 Know I doe scorne to stoupe To rip your liues.
1602 B. Jonson Poetaster iv. vi. sig. I If you thinke Gods but fain'd, and Vertue painted, Know, we sustaine an actuall residence. View more context for this quotation
a1661 T. Fuller Worthies (1662) i. 1 Know then, I propound five ends to my self in this Book.
1704 T. Baker Act at Oxf. v. 45 Know, I have plac'd my Love elsewhere.
1739 H. Baker & J. Miller Don John v. ii. 362 Know, Sir, that the Pitcher goes so oft to the Well, that it comes home broke at last.
1747 Fortune's Tricks in Forty-six 51 You Gentlemen of the Rabble Generation, know, we are not disposed at present to be disturbed with your Adder-like Musick.
1849 M. Arnold Strayed Reveller, & Other Poems 54 Know, man hath all which Nature hath, but more, And in that more lie all his hopes of good.
1862 W. H. Ainsworth Constable of Tower 131 Know, ye incredulous bawsons, that I am now one of the royal household.
1885 R. F. Burton tr. Arabian Nights' Entertainm. I. xiv. 139 Know, O my lady, that..my fleet numbered fifty merchantmen, and as many yachts for pleasance.
1927 J. Buchan Witch Wood xii. 203 Know, sir, that this day my army has been beaten on the Yarrow haughs and utterly scattered.
1989 O. V. Vijayan After the Hanging 83 Know, my child, that the sickle-and-hammer is the emblem of the international proletariat.
b. transitive. With an indirect question.
(a) With interrogative clause as object. Cf. yknow v. 10c.With how and infinitive, expressing understanding of the way to do something; cf. sense 15a.
ΚΠ
a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 81 (MED) We wolden sen sum fortocne of þe, Warbi we mihten cnowen gif it soð were þat þu seist.
a1275 (?c1200) Prov. Alfred (Trin. Cambr.) (1955) 108 (MED) Ne saltu neuere knewen [a1250 Maidstone cuþen] wanne he þe wole bikechen.
c1300 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Otho) (1963) l. 2307 Ac ne cnowe [c1275 Calig. nuten] non of þis gomes..in woche londe we beoþ icome.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 2209 (MED) Bi contenaunce wel thei kneu where þei rest schold take.
c1400 ( G. Chaucer Treat. Astrolabe (Cambr. Dd.3.53) (1872) ii. §1. 14 Rekene and knowe which is the day of thi monthe.
?1406 T. Hoccleve La Mâle Règle l. 41 in E. P. Hammond Eng. Verse between Chaucer & Surrey (1927) 61/1 Myn vnwar yowthe kneew nat what it wroghte.
1526 Bible (Tyndale) 1 Thess. iv. 3 Every one of you shulde knowe howe to kepe his vessel in sanctifyinge and honoure.
1531 T. Elyot Bk. named Gouernour i. xviii. sig. Jviii I coulde neuer knowe who founde firste that disporte.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII f. clxxiiij We haue so many clothes in our handes, that we knowe not how to vtter them.
1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 147 Not one..of a thousand among them, knowing how to write.
1649 J. Milton Εικονοκλαστης xvii. 159 Timothy and Titus, and I know not whom thir Successors.
1686 R. Plot Nat. Hist. Staffs. iv. 165 Every body knows what stiptical qualities, always attend ferrugineous bodies.
1731 P. Miller Gardeners Dict. I. at Apium Every old Woman in the Country, that hath a Garden, Knows how to cultivate a Parsly-bed.
1736 Bp. J. Butler Analogy of Relig. ii. v. 199 We do not know, what the whole natural or appointed Consequences of Vice, are.
1776 H. Thrale Thraliana (1942) I. 14 People sometimes talk of a dry thing; I never knew quite what it meant.
1813 T. Jefferson Corr. (1830) 221 No man knows what his property is worth, because it is bloating while he is calculating.
1850 Baroness Blaze de Bury Germania II. 30 It was worth cooking for people who knew how to speak!
1875 B. Jowett in tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) V. 44 He who does not know what is true will not know what is good.
1937 A. Wynn in J. F. Dobie & M. C. Boatright Straight Texas 222 Every woman knew how to card her bats for a quilt.
1943 E. M. Almedingen Frossia ii. 59 Come to think of it, I never knew why I married Hugo.
1974 S. Clapham Greenhouse Bk. xvii. 172 The difficulty lies in knowing when they are at rest and when they are not.
2008 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 4 May (Summer Movies Suppl.) 14/4 Even when you know where the movie is headed, nothing can prepare you for the shattering near-silence of the final moment.
(b) With complementary interrogative word standing for the whole clause.The superordinate clause containing to know, when interrogative, negative, or with subjects such as the Lord, goodness, can constitute a pro-form corresponding in grammatical function to the embedded interrogative word (as for example in quot. 1904).to know how: cf. note at sense 11b(a).
ΚΠ
c1450 Jacob's Well (1900) 211 Ȝif þou fynde a thyng þat is noȝt þin, þe muste restore it, ȝif þou knowe to whom.
1567 J. Maplet Greene Forest f. 28 Othersome..arise up of their owne accord not known how.
1574 tr. Life 70. Archbishopp Canterbury To Rdr. sig. Eiij Like a pore blinde zebediste to aske he knoeth not what.
1605 G. Chapman et al. Eastward Hoe v. sig. H2 Good faith, rather then thou shouldest pawne a ragge more Il'd lay my Ladiship in lauender, if I knew where.
1663 R. Southwell Let. 15 May in H. Oldenburg Corr. (1965) II. 54 And if ye odd Money and odd measure be understood in yt unlimited way I mentioned, then I say it will amount unto a great matter; but I know not what.
1681 J. Dryden Absalom & Achitophel 21 The Spirit caught him up, the Lord knows where.
1726 J. Swift Cadenus & Vanessa 36 She was at Lord knows what Expence, To form a Nymph of Wit and Sense.
1760 Duchess of Northumberland Diary 16 Aug. (1926) 25 A new House the Pedimentis terribly loaded with Ornaments of Trumpets & Maces & the Deuce knows what.
1799 T. Dutton tr. A. von Kotzebue Pizarro in Peru 83 El. Would you rather have me there than not? Piz. Yes; and do you know why?
1837 Bentley's Misc. Aug. 171 Then you will be an M.P., and who knows what else!
1893 Bookman June 82/2 Nobody writes moral-allegorical tales now, because nobody knows how.
1900 H. K. Webster Banker & Bear xvii. 288 You say Bagsbury's gone out to lunch? Do you know where?
1904 St. Nicholas May 602/2 The tradesmen..kept recommending things to Harry—hot-house pineapples, peaches, nectarines, grapes, and goodness knows what.
1942 Sci. News Let. 12 Dec. 378/1 Air sickness can be prevented or cured if you know how.
1988 J. Ellroy Big Nowhere iv. 36 The killer had just brutally snuffed his victim and transported the body from fuck knows where.
2001 U.S. News & World Rep. 12 Nov. 4/1 The marshalls don't want to show their hand. And now we know why.
c. transitive. With object and object complement.In later use the complement is usually preceded by as or (now rare) for.
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a1325 St. Patrick (Corpus Cambr.) l. 23 in C. D'Evelyn & A. J. Mill S. Eng. Legendary (1956) 86 (MED) Sore was þe þeof ofssamed þat men for þef him knewe.
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) ii. l. 926 (MED) He lefte at hom..Suche as he knew of holi lif.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 6715 If his lauerd kneu him kene o horn..If he sla man or womman, þis ox þan sal be taght to slan.
a1450 Pater Noster Richard Ermyte (Westm. Sch. 3) (1967) 38 (MED) Þou woldist not trowe he wolde faile, for þou knew hym bifore as trewe & good.
a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1897–1973) 81 (MED) For a wyse man that knyght men know.
1590 W. Segar Bk. Honor & Armes iv. 57 A Gentleman that is knowne a Spie for the Enemie.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Cymbeline (1623) i. i. 77 I will be knowne your Aduocate. View more context for this quotation
1665 R. Brathwait Comment Two Tales Chaucer 101 I know you for a notable Soaker.
1753 S. Johnson Adventurer No. 119. 290 Every man..knows himself a necessitous and precarious being.
1769 O. Goldsmith Rom. Hist. I. 263 An enemy, whom he knew more powerful than himself.
1861 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Sept. 298/2 He kept his neck under the yoke of a service to which he knew himself unequal.
1914 E. von Arnim Pastor's Wife xii. 135 A hat she had till then considered neat, but that she now knew for a monstrous piece of frippery.
1958 A. Sillitoe Saturday Night & Sunday Morning vi. 82 She was known as a blab-mouth in all the pubs.
1991 J. C. Oates Heat & Other Stories 91 He knew himself alone, and secret, and invulnerable.
d. transitive. With it, that, the fact, etc., used anaphorically or cataphorically in place of a fact referred to. Cf. yknow v. 10d.For use with antecedent it and that see sense 11a.
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1387–8 Petition London Mercers in R. W. Chambers & M. Daunt Bk. London Eng. (1931) 34 Nichol Brembre..with stronge honde, as it is ful knowen..was chosen Mair.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) l. 14949 Þese iewes ben ȝe hit knowen [Vesp. wel wat yee it].
c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) l. 869 And ser, vnworthely þou wroȝt & þat þou wele knawis.
a1500 ( Pilgrimage of Soul (Egerton) (1953) i. xxii. f. 17v (MED) I haue be with the whan thu knewe it nought, Enserchyng, lo, thi pouns of conscience.
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 11721 I haue comynt in this case, knowith hit your-selfe.
1610 J. Healey tr. J. L. Vives in tr. St. Augustine Citie of God iii. iii. 110 This I thinke is knowne to all.
1668 J. Dryden Sr Martin Mar-all iv. 38 Warn. I was the foolish rascally fellow that was with Moody... Sir M. But how could I know this?
1715 D. Defoe Family Instructor I. i. i. 7 How do we know that he dwells there..?..we know it two ways.
1797 Voice of Truth to People of Eng. 19 Those of you who do not already know the fact, will find it difficult to believe that there were Britons..who had their children..named Marat, Robespierre, &c. &c.
1843 T. C. Haliburton Attaché II. ix. 159 ‘Creation, man,’ said Mr. Slick, ‘I have done it..and you didn't know it.’
1891 Mrs. Newman Begun in Jest I. 47 As soon as Dorothy wished it to be known.
1928 W. Deeping Old Pybus 10 With the air of a man who had pocketed some of the table silver and was determined that no one should know it.
1969 Rolling Stone 28 June 19/2 You start naming off some country songs and they say ‘Is that Country? I didn't know that.’
2006 C. Murray Murder in Samarkand iii. 49 I did not yet know it, but the Uzbek government routinely treated foreign ambassadors with a lack of courtesy bordering on contempt.
e. transitive. With object and infinitive.
(a) Corresponding in use to sense 11a.
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c1405 (c1375) G. Chaucer Monk's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 662 His doghter..Which that he knew in heigh sentence habounde.
c1426 J. Audelay Poems (1931) 157 (MED) Was neuer bot ȝe þat monkynd knew To bere a child, and maide clene.
c1475 (?c1400) Apol. Lollard Doctr. (1842) 29 So knaw bischopis hem to be..þe more þer souereyns.
1545 G. Joye Expos. Daniel Argt. f. 5v Let euery diligent reder knowe hymselfe miche to haue profited, if he but the cheif principalls vnderstand.
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. cccliijv He would vrge..those thinges chiefly, wherewith he knewe their myndes to be moste offended.
1651 R. Baxter Plain Script. Proof Infants Church-membership & Baptism 193 Knowing such motions to come from pride and self-Idolizing.
1726 in Colonial Rec. Pennsylvania (1852) III. 257 He is known to lie under deep Engagements to that Party.
1809 Med. & Physical Jrnl. 21 479 It would be an insult to common reason to suppose..that you would encourage prejudices which you knew to exist.
1844 B. Disraeli Coningsby III. ix. vi. 324 The Whigs were known to be feeble.
1885 R. L. Stevenson & F. Stevenson Dynamiter 152 The black blood that I now knew to circulate in my veins.
1929 Amer. Polit. Sci. Rev. 23 895 The party was fighting what all knew to be a difficult, defensive battle.
1952 A. Wilson Hemlock & After i. v. 101 Bernard knew many of these ‘beautiful’ young men to depend on their wits and their social success to maintain themselves.
2007 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 25 Apr. a15/6 It is the smallest of the 200 or so planets that are known to exist outside of our solar system.
(b) In perfect tenses: to have had perception or experience of as a contemporary fact. In later use also in the simple past tense, in negative contexts (chiefly with never).Frequently with bare infinitive in the active voice (I have known them fall). Cf. hear v. 3a.
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a1555 N. Ridley Certein Conf. Ridley & Latimer (1556) f. 33v I haue knowen my contreiemen watche nighte and daie in their harnesse..and their speares in their hands.
1595 L. Lewkenor Estate Eng. Fugitives sig. G4v The souldiers lingered in such sort, that I haue knowen them remaine three yeres together without one moneths paie.
1603 P. Holland tr. Plutarch Morals 324 Some there be who have beene knowen to gather in their wombe a rude masse or lump..which some call a Mole.
a1680 S. Butler Genuine Remains (1759) I. 90 Thy Works..never have been known to stand in need Of Stationer to sell, or Sot to read.
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 29. ¶11 I have sometimes known the Performer..do no more in a Celebrated Song, than the Clerk of a Parish Church.
1752 H. Fielding Amelia II. v. v. 123 I have known him do great Services to Gentlemen under a Cloud.
1824 W. Irving Tales of Traveller II. 35 I..have known Hamlet to stalk solemnly on to deliver his soliloquy, with a dishclout pinned to his skirts.
1850 J. McCosh Method Divine Govt. (1874) iii. ii. 397 Criminals have been known..to jest even upon the scaffold.
1884 Mrs. H. Ward Miss Bretherton vii. 86 I never knew anyone do so much in so short a time.
a1933 J. A. Thomson Biol. for Everyman (1934) II. 1160 The Indian Lotus has been known to germinate after having lain dormant for at least one century.
1958 ‘N. Shute’ Rainbow & Rose 64 I never knew it [sc. the weather] to be so crook.
1993 Garden Answers May 54/4 I have known people buy what they thought were named trees, which turned out to be worthless seedlings!
f. transitive. With a phrase headed by an abstract noun, corresponding to an equivalent predicate statement.
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c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Man of Law's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 857 The Romayn Emperour..hath by lettres knowe The slaughtre of cristen folk.
1485 W. Caxton tr. Thystorye & Lyf Charles the Grete sig. fiiij/1 Sortybrant which knewe the mutabylyte of wymmen & thynconstaunce.
1546 G. Joye Refut. Byshop Winchesters Derke Declar. f. viiv That he knowinge his owne imperfection and impossibilite, shuld seke helpe of him in whom is all perfection.
a1645 W. Browne tr. M. Le Roy Hist. Polexander (1647) v. i. 284 I knew the vainnesse of my hopes, and the just cause Alcidiana had to punish my boldnesse.
1799 T. McKenna Mem. 37 Every body knows the importance of newspapers in forming the mind of that numerous class in our country, who [etc.].
1864 F. C. Bowen Treat. Logic ix. 267 It is more difficult to weave invalid but specious arguments, knowing their incorrectness.
1947 G. Morgenstern Pearl Harbor p. viii An inquiry by Army intelligence for Mr. Roosevelt was so secret that its existence is known only by hearsay.
2007 C. Thompson Suffering Traveller & Romantic Imagination 219 He..would seek to save monuments of art and intellect, even though he know the pointlessness of the exercise.
g.
(a) intransitive. In parenthetic use, and after as (with the remainder of the sentence being an expression of that which is known). See also Phrases 1, Phrases 21a.
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c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Man of Law's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) Prol. l. 50 Chaucer..Hath seyd hem in swich englissh as he kan Of olde tyme as knoweth many a man.
?a1425 (?c1350) Northern Passion (Rawl.) l. 2443 (MED) It was þair custom, als men knew, Þat who-so neuend þat name Ihesu, He suld be staned to ded.
1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) II. 521 Gold is so glittis, as ȝe knaw and ken, Quhilk of befoir hes causit mony men To [etc.].
1598 T. Bastard Chrestoleros vii. xxv. 172 Fye filthy muckers tis not so, Ye erre, God is not goold I know.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) ii. i. 167 You haue, I know, petition'd all the Gods for my prosperitie. View more context for this quotation
a1670 J. Hacket Scrinia Reserata (1693) i. 104 The Lord Treasurer, I know well, had..not drawn a denier out of the King's purse.
1751 T. Smollett Peregrine Pickle I. ii. 13 The commodore, with whom, he knew, it was dangerous to tamper in any other way.
1798 Philos. Mag. 1 1 These defects, as every one knows, are an imperfect vacuum, much friction, and a complicated construction of parts.
1832 W. M. Praed Bridal of Belmont in Literary Souvenir 58 Some people have a knack, we know, Of saying things mal-a-propos.
1913 Sat. Evening Post (Philadelphia) 22 Feb. 8/1 Ashe's temper was one of the market factors, as Wall Street knew to its sorrow.
1953 D. Whipple Someone at Distance xxvii. 243 ‘Pricey, I know,’ continued Mr. Pye. ‘But worth it, Madam.’
1970 P. Berton National Dream i. iv. 28 The settlement of the West, they knew, meant an end to their own unique society.
2000 K. Atkinson Emotionally Weird (2001) 21 If you were asked to pick out the maiden in a police line-up of women (an unlikely scenario, I know).
(b) intransitive. In elliptical use: to have knowledge of a fact previously mentioned or contextually implied.
ΚΠ
1609 W. Shakespeare Troilus & Cressida ii. i. 129 Who shall answer him. Achil. I know not, tis put to lottry. View more context for this quotation
1685 R. Baxter Paraphr. New Test. Matt. ix. 25 When God will tell us we shall know.
1758 S. Smythies Brothers I. ii. vii. 231 ‘Who is she?’ cried the Baronet.—‘Nay, Sir, I don't rightly know.’
1807 Cabinet Mar. 19 I do not care how they [sc. light and sound] travel, and I do not want to know.
1853 E. C. Gaskell Ruth III. vi. 197 You need not speak to me—I know.
1904 J. K. Jerome Passing of Third Floor Back (1908) 19 ‘I am not a boy,’ explained the stranger; ‘and I had no intention of being bold.’ ‘I know,’ replied Miss Kite.
1950 A. Buckeridge Jennings goes to School xii. 240 The way he back-pedalled about that terrific header of his: anyone who didn't know, might really think it had been a fluke after all!
1995 C. Bateman Cycle of Violence viii. 140 ‘Have you touched your own daughter yet?’ ‘Jesus Christ!’ ‘Does your wife even know?’
12. transitive. To apprehend or comprehend as fact or truth; to have a clear or distinct perception or apprehension of; to understand or comprehend with clearness and feeling of certainty; to be cognizant or aware of. In early use sometimes: †to get to understand, to find out, learn (obsolete). Cf. yknow v. 10b.When the feeling of certainty is emphasized, know is often contrasted with believe.
ΚΠ
lOE Canterbury Psalter xliii. 22 Deus..enim novit occulta cordis : God..eællengæ cnaweð [lOE Salisbury Psalter gecnæwð] diglæ heortæn.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 15624 He [sc. Jesus Christ] cnew hemm alle wel & alle þeȝȝre þohhtess.
c1200 ( West Saxon Gospels: John (Hatton) viii. 43 Hwi ne cnawe [OE Corpus Cambr. gecnawe] ge mine spræce, forþan þe ge ne magen geheren mine spræce.
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1871) III. 217 Meny þinges beeþ þat mowe be knowe by manis kynde wytt.
?1541 M. Coverdale Confut. Standish sig. i.vii Thou dyddest promes knowlege of the trueth, and now thou wilt compell me to beleue the thinge that I knowe not.
?1549 J. Hooper Declar. 10 Commandm. vi. p. lxxxvi There were sommne [sic] callyd Augures that by obseruation of the byrdes of thaire..made men belyue the knew thinges to comme.
1601 A. Gil Treat. conc. Trinitie 7 I conclude, that there is nothing which is beleeued, but it may also be knowen.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ix. 804 Mature In knowledge, as the Gods who all things know . View more context for this quotation
1744 G. Berkeley Siris (ESTC T72826) §253 We know a thing when we understand it.
1845 R. C. Trench Fitness Holy Script. i. 18 We must pass into and unite ourselves with that which we would know, ere we can know it more than in name.
1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. IV. xvii. 56 It seems probable that..he did not know his own mind.
1874 J. S. Blackie On Self-culture 14 Count yourself not to know a fact when you know that it took place, but then only when you see it as it did take place.
1911 J. Conrad Let. 20 Oct. (1956) 232 You don't know the truth when you see it—unless it smells of cabbage-soup.
1941 ‘Gypsy Rose Lee’ G-string Murders ii. 43 How do I know these things, you ask? Because I got friends, that's why.
2000 J. L. Kvanvig in A. Hastings et al. Oxf. Compan. Christian Thought 498/2 The traditional account of omniscience claims that God knows everything true.
13. intransitive. To have knowledge, awareness, or understanding.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > understand [verb (intransitive)]
seeOE
understandc1000
knowlOE
tellc1390
conceive1563
smoke1676
overstand1699
view1711
savvy1785
dig1789
twig1832
capisce1904
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > know, be aware of [verb (intransitive)]
wit971
knowlOE
to be aware (of, that)a1250
wota1300
be (well) warec1325
to know of ——c1390
not to seek1569
to know for ——1576
to know on ——1608
to have cognizance of1635
reck1764
to be (or get) wise to1896
lOE Salisbury Psalter xiii. 4 Nonne cognoscent omnes qui operantur iniquitatem? : na ne cnawað ealle þa wyrcað unrihtwisnesse?
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 13811 Þu cnawesst rihht. & trowwesst.
c1350 Psalter (BL Add. 17376) in K. D. Bülbring Earliest Compl. Eng. Prose Psalter (1891) xiii. 8 (MED) Alle þat wirichen wickednesse, ne shal hij nouȝt knowen [L. Nonne cognoscent]?
c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. x. l. 464 Suche lewed iottes..Þat inparfitly here knewe and eke lyued.
1561 T. Norton tr. J. Calvin Inst. Christian Relig. iii. f. 277 When menne do with minde and vnderstanding conceyue the knowlege of things, they are thereby sayd (Scire) to know.
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Apol. Poetrie (1595) sig. I4 Exercise indeede wee doe, but that, very fore-backwardly: for where we should exercise to know, wee exercise as hauing knowne.
1669 S. Sturmy Mariners Mag. i. 22 By Speculation we know that we may the better know.
1726 J. Mitchell & A. Hill Fatal Extravagance v. iii. 63 A Life of Ignorance is far the sweetest; To know, is to know Pain.
1742 A. Pope New Dunciad 149 To ask, to guess, to know, as they commence, As Fancy opens the quick springs of Sense.
1832 Ld. Tennyson Palace of Art xli, in Poems (new ed.) 80 Largebrowed Verulam, The king of those who know.
1892 Mrs. H. Ward David Grieve II. 164 A word, a look from a real artist—from one of the great men who know.
1963 B. Lewis in L. E. Sweet Peoples & Cultures Middle East (1970) 103 That knowledge, in Arabic Ilm, was the preserve of the ulema—those who know.
2009 Independent 8 Oct. 37/3 To distinguish between the people who know, and the people who bullshit.
14. transitive. To have knowledge or information concerning (something), esp. as a consequence of observation, inquiry, or study; to have ascertained, learned, or found out; to have a correct idea or understanding of. Formerly also: †to learn, ascertain, find out (obsolete). Cf. yknow v. 11.to know one's own mind: see mind n.1 10e.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > knowledge, what is known > have knowledge, know [verb (transitive)]
i-witec900
wit971
yknowOE
canOE
i-kenc1000
seeOE
yknowOE
understanda1131
knowlOE
can (or could) skillc1340
cona1387
havec1405
kyd1530
weeta1547
digest1549
wist1580
wis1606
savvy1686
sabe1850
lOE Canterbury Psalter ix. 11 Et sperent in te omnes qui noverunt nomen tuum : & wenen uel hyhten on þe ealle þa þe cuðen uel cniewen þinne nomæn.
c1225 (?c1200) St. Katherine (1973) l. 463 Ȝef þu wult cnawen mi cun, ich am kinges dohter.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 577 Ȝit couþe non by no craft knowen hire sore.
c1390 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Vernon) (1867) A. ix. l. 63 ‘What art þou’, quod I ‘þat my nome knowest?’
?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) i. l. 2951 To know þer names, I am alle wille.
a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) (1891) l. 5570 What wolde he thanne ha yow to ha bought To knowen openly her thought That he now hath so clerly seen.
c1500 (?a1475) Assembly of Gods (1896) l. 175 He hit desyryd to know hys offence.
1531 T. Elyot Bk. named Gouernour iii. xxv. sig. hvv Galene..exhorteth them to knowe exactly the accustomed diete of their patientes.
1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball i. lxxiii. 109 The fourth is now called on Shoppes Iacea nigra, and Materfilon: and it hath none other name knowen vnto vs.
1614 G. Markham Cheape & Good Husbandry iii. xxx. 80 If you will know the age of your Sheepe, looke in his mouth.
1669 S. Sturmy Mariners Mag. i. 38 How to divide a Triangle (whose Area or Content is known) into two Parts.
1706 A. Pope Let. 10 Apr. in Corr. (1956) I. 16 Pray let me know your mind in this.
1776 Trial Maha Rajah Nundocomar for Forgery 23/1 I do not know his age exactly.
1801 J. Strutt Glig-gamena Angel-ðeod i. i. 7 The king was desirous of knowing the name of this gay gentleman.
1847 H. Hallam Introd. Lit. Europe II. iii. iii. 414 If..we could know the internal structure of one primary atom.
1872 J. Morley Voltaire i. 9 The free-thinker [would fain pass] for a person with his own orthodoxies if you only knew them.
1932 P. Hamilton Siege of Pleasure iii. 127 in Twenty Thousand Streets under Sky (1935) ‘Do you know the time, please?’ she cried. ‘No. I'll tell you in a jiffy.’
1978 G. Greene Human Factor i. iii. 30 Nobody called Daintry by his first name because nobody knew it.
2003 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 7 Sept. v. 9/4 He..knew an elephant's size, age and sex from a footprint.
15. transitive. With infinitive as object.
a. To understand the way (to do something), to be intellectually able. Cf. can v.1 4. Now archaic except with to do.Largely superseded by to know how: see sense 11b. See also all one knows at Phrases 17.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > knowledge, what is known > familiarity > know, be conversant with [verb (transitive)] > know how to
cuneOE
yknoweOE
canOE
knowa1250
a1250 (?c1200) Prov. Alfred (Galba) (transcript of damaged MS) (1955) 80 Þe cniht bihoueð ceneliche to cnowen uor to werie þe lond of hunȝer & of hereȝonȝ.
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Matt. vii. 11 Ȝe..han knowen [a1425 L.V. ȝe..kunnen] for to ȝeue good thingus ȝouen to ȝoure sonys.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Eccl. vi. 8 What helpeth it the poore, that he knoweth to walke before the lyuynge?
1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes f. 241 Yt euery such suter..should knowe to salute & cal euery citezen by his name without the helpe of any byddelle to prompe hym.
1566 W. Adlington tr. Apuleius .XI. Bks. Golden Asse xl. f. 93 By and by the olde woman whiche knew well to babble, beganne to tell as followeth.
a1668 W. Davenant Wks. (1673) i. 292 Alee, or we sink! Does no man know to wind her!
1719 W. Oldisworth tr. C. Quillet Callipædia (ed. 2) iv. 582 Well verst in State-Craft, the mysterious Trade, They know to gild and paint a pious Fraud.
a1763 W. Shenstone Wks. Verse & Prose (1764) I. 13 He little knew to ward the secret wound.
1807 J. Barlow Columbiad iii. 98 Tell them we know to tread the crimson plain.
1870 W. C. Bryant tr. Homer Iliad I. v. 136 Who knew to shape all works of rare device.
1916 P. MacKaye Caliban by Yellow Sands 171 These hath he mastered, and knoweth to parry the white frost arrow's Pitiless barb.
1925 G. Murray tr. Aeschylus Eumenides 8 Thou knowest to hurt my soul; yea, but shalt save not him.
1956 E. Wilson Red, Black, Blond & Olive 343 The only thing they knew to do about them [sc. bugs] was to apply the torch to the iron bedsteads.
2000 L. Gray-Rosendale Rethinking Basic Writing 2 Why was this the case? After all, I had done everything I knew to do.
b. To be aware or have learnt from experience that it is desirable or advisable (to do something), either immediately or in principle.
ΚΠ
1899 Leisure Hour 204/1 We know now not to spend our money in such ways again.
1940 L. G. Johnson in E. F. Dempsey Atticus Green Haygood p. xvi Everyone knew to go to bed.
1973 Baseball Digest Mar. 28/1 He knows to go to the fence first and then pick up the ball.
1992 C. Paglia Sex, Art, & Amer. Culture 69 Even in my era, we knew not to go to fraternity parties.
2009 Observer (Nexis) 5 Apr. (Special Suppl.) 51 After numerous revisits, I now know to turn off the A39 by the Dairy Crest cheese factory.
†16. transitive. To cause to be known, make known; to disclose, reveal, manifest; to declare. Also reflexive: to make oneself known, reveal one's identity. Cf. yknow v. 12. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > manifestation > disclosure or revelation > disclose or reveal [verb (transitive)]
unwryc825
unhelec1000
to draw forthc1175
unhillc1200
to bring forth?c1225
unsteekc1250
let witc1275
uncovera1300
wraya1300
knowc1300
barea1325
shrivec1374
unwrapc1374
again-covera1382
nakena1382
outc1390
tellc1390
disclosea1393
cough1393
unhidea1400
unclosec1400
unhaspc1400
bewrayc1405
reveal1409
accusea1413
reveil1424
unlocka1425
unrekec1425
disclude?1440
uncurec1440
utter1444
detect1447
break1463
expose1483
divinec1500
revelate1514
to bring (also put) to light1526
decipher1529
rake1547
rip1549
unshadow1550
to lay to sight1563
uppen1565
unlace1567
unvisor?1571
resign1572
uncloak1574
disshroud1577
spill1577
reap1578
unrip1579
scour1585
unharboura1586
unmask1586
uncase1587
descrya1591
unclasp?1592
unrive1592
discover1594
unburden1594
untomb1594
unhusk1596
dismask1598
to open upc1600
untruss1600
divulge1602
unshale1606
unbrace1607
unveil1609
rave1610
disveil1611
unface1611
unsecret1612
unvizard1620
to open up1624
uncurtain1628
unscreen1628
unbare1630
disenvelop1632
unclothe1632
to lay forth1633
unshroud1633
unmuffle1637
midwife1638
dissecret1640
unseal1640
unmantle1643
to fetch out1644
undisguise1655
disvelop1658
decorticate1660
clash1667
exert1692
disinter1711
to up with1715
unbundlea1739
develop1741
disembosom1745
to open out1814
to let out1833
unsack1846
uncrown1849
to bring (out) in (also into) the open1861
unfrock1866
disbosom1868
to blow the lid off1928
flush1950
surface1955
to take or pull the wraps off1964
c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) l. 2057 (MED) But hwan his wundes weren shewed, And a leche hauede knawed Þat he hem mouthe ful wel hele.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 3838 Iacob..kneu him þar wid may rachel.
a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) (1891) l. 6090 For certeyn, they wolde hate me If ever I knewe her cruelte.
c1440 (?a1400) Morte Arthure l. 2637 (MED) Whethire thowe be knyghte or knaffe, knawe now þe sothe.
a1500 in C. Brown Relig. Lyrics 15th Cent. (1939) 205 (MED) As thow gothe betwix hym and me, And knowethe my lyffe in euery degre, Saying it in his presence.
†17.
a. transitive (reflexive). To be knowledgeable or learned, to have expertise or skill. Chiefly with in. (In quot. 1340 with following clause as second object.) Obsolete.
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1340 Ayenbite (1866) 77 (MED) Þe wyse chapman..over al him knauþ [Fr. se conoissent] huet ech þing is worþ.
a1450 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Lamb.) (1887) i. l. 11064 (MED) Þer were chanons of clergye & knewe þem wel in astronomye.
a1450 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Lamb.) (1887) i. l. 11198 Þe names of þem y ne wot what are... Y ne knowe me nought in swylk chaffare.
1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) xii. l. 412 Wallace beheld, quhilk weill in weir him knew.
b. transitive. In passive in same sense. Cf. known adj. 2. Obsolete.
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1630 H. Lord Display Two Forraigne Sects 33 To bee knowne onely in his owne busynes, and not to enquire after the things of the world.
1655 T. Fuller Church-hist. Brit. v. 187 The two Lord chief Justices were in the same Treason (whose Education made them more known in the Laws of the Land).

Phrases

P1. colloquial.
a. you know.
(a) Used parenthetically, usually following the main statement (frequently with emphatic, persuasive, or reproving intent): as you know (or may like to or should know) is the case. Similarly (now archaic and rare) thou knowest.
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a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 1174 He is my lege man lelly þou knowes.
1565 T. Stapleton Disc. Doctr. Protestants in tr. F. Staphylus Apol. f. 165v The whole corps off scripture was not, you know, at one push approued.
1599 H. Buttes Dyets Dry Dinner sig. Aa4v Yet Time (you know) is Edax rerum.
1625 T. Middleton Game at Chæss iii. sig. Gv W. p... White quickly soyles you know. B. p... Get thee gone, Then I shall smut thee.
1698 J. Kirkwood Plea before Kirk 102 The stranger, a Northlin, not so strait lac'd, you know, as we in the South, slipt into the meeting-house to hear the Curate preach.
1751 S. Richardson Clarissa (ed. 3) V. xxxvi. 318 For Women to Women, thou knowest, are great darers and incentives.
1775 J. Wesley Let. 3 Nov. (1931) VI. 187 I hear nothing from Cornwell; and no news, you know, is good news.
1800 M. Edgeworth Waste Not in Parent's Assistant (ed. 3) V. 136 Lady Diana Sweepstakes, you know, is a famous rider, and archer.
1835 C. Dickens Sketches by Boz (1836) 1st Ser. II. 39 What's the matter, sir? Never say die, you know.
1885 ‘F. Anstey’ Tinted Venus i. 7 Ought I to have cried both my eyes out? You haven't cried out either of yours, you know.
1901 W. F. Fleming tr. Voltaire Orestes iii. iv, in Wks. XVII. 111 The wretched wanderer, thou knowest, was doomed To hate a mother.
1926 G. Hunting Vicarion iv. 63 This represents some years of study, you know, this little exhibition I have given you.
1959 P. O'Brian Unknown Shore x. 190 You are very much beslobbered, you know, Toby.
2000 A. Maupin Night Listener (2001) xvii. 215 This isn't some Hardy Boys mystery, you know. We're talking about a sick kid who could be dead in a month.
†(b) Following a question: do you know? Obsolete.
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1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 475. ¶5 How can he help that, you know?
(c) Used to temporize, while the speaker considers how to continue, or simply as a conversational filler. Cf. you know what I mean at mean v.1 6d.
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1824 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Mar. 307/1 We'd be as wise as the dead was, you know, when he sung as they carried him to church.
1849 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Dec. 726/1 If this wind were to—ah—you know, heave more abaft, that's to say, get stronger.
1913 Sat. Evening Post (Philadelphia) 22 Feb. 14/1 ‘It's the other men. You see’—he began to stammer—‘they know about you and they've begun to kick. They won't work alongside a feller that's been—er—you know—why, in trouble.’
1937 J. Weidman I can get it for you Wholesale xx. 197 You could run the office, and keep your eye on things in general.., and sort of, well, you know, sort of superintend the whole works.
1955 Carolina Q. Fall 57 I told him all about his quiet spells, and how he never let himself show any—uh—well, you know, emotion about anything.
1968 Listener 16 May 626/2 Too often one hears people on the wireless beginning an elaborate sentence—they flounder about for a bit and then break off with: ‘you know’.
1972 A. Bennett Getting On ii. 41 Andy. George, I have said, you know, nothing. George. That's ‘you know’ right. You have said ‘you know’ bugger all.
2003 R. Liddle Too Beautiful for You (2004) 193 Later I'm..consoling Saul and Dipak because the Animal Liberation Front has firebombed Sheepscape on account of the, you know, sheep.
(d) Used, esp. preceding the main statement, to indicate that the speaker expects that the general nature of what is being referred to will be known or understood (and frequently also to stimulate agreement or acquiescence).
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1850 W. M. Thackeray Pendennis II. xvii. 170 I'll talk to her—break it to her gently, you know, and that sort of thing.
1906 Catholic World Apr. 37 ‘A celibate? What's that?’ ‘Oh, you know. A sort of obstinate bachelor.’
1943 A. Rand Fountainhead iii. v. 491 We'll put Dominique back on the paper and we'll have her write a column..on the home. You know, household hints, kitchen, babies and all that.
1953 S. Kauffmann Philanderer xiv. 235 The other kind was the muscle men. You know, right off the farm where they were lifting tractors with one hand.
1983 N.Y. Times Mag. 28 Aug. 16/2 A sultry summer Sunday is a time for people to drive somewhere with the kids and when they arrive to buy them a pop. A what? You know, a pop—short for Popsicle—ice on a stick.
2006 A. McCall Smith Right Attitude to Rain v. 55 The hundred-year eggs that the Chinese eat. You know, the eggs they bury for a hundred days and then dig up and eat.
(e) Chiefly euphemistic. Used in place of something the speaker is unable or does not care to specify.
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1900 ‘S. Grand’ Babs xliii. 410 ‘It's a poor heart that never—you know,’ he observed.
1911 D. H. Lawrence White Peacock ii. i. 219 It's the way she swings her body—an' the curves as she stands. It's when you look at her—you feel—you know.
1964 in R. D. Abrahams Deep down in Jungle ii. v. 203 I was sitting around this girl's house, friend of mine's wife, and I was going to give her a little bit, you know.
1986 N. Freeling Cold Iron vi. 66 Even if I'm in the you-know [i.e. lavatory], there's the buzzer.
2006 Independent (Nexis) 17 Jan. 33 A body part. You know. OK, a vinkle.
b. British. don't you know: = you know at Phrases 1a.Now generally considered old-fashioned and upper-class. Modern uses are frequently humorous or intended to characterize upper-class speech.
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1802 J. Baillie Second Marriage iv. ii, in Series of Plays II. 439 Rob. What do you want? Cook. It is ghost-time, don't you know? and your night for it too.
1848 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair lx. 541 He ain't like old Veal, who is always bragging and using such long words, don't you know?
1896 F. C. Philips Undeserving Woman 104 ‘When?’ said George. ‘I'd like to put the thing right at once, don't you know.’
1918 ‘B. MacNamara’ Valley of Squinting Windows 59 But sure they're a kind of connections, don't you know, and I suppose 'til only natural?
1930 ‘Sapper’ Finger of Fate 225 My wife is such a nervous woman, don't you know.
1977 ‘E. Crispin’ Glimpses of Moon i. 9 ‘That's another of them, don't you know,’ said the Major.
2006 PC Gamer Apr. 142/2 Do not trash-talk fellow racers. That's terribly ungentlemanly, don't you know.
P2.
a. be it known (formerly also †known be it): used to introduce an announcement, proclamation, etc. Chiefly with that-clause. Also used parenthetically. Now chiefly archaic or humorous.Sometimes part of a longer formula, as be it known to all (men), etc.
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1382 in Hist. MSS Comm.: 10th Rep.: App. Pt. V: MSS Marquis of Ormonde &c. (1885) 292 in Parl. Papers (C. 4576-I) XLII. 1 Be it knowin that the Monday nexte after the feste of Saint Myghel..It was grantid and ordaynid [etc.].
1416 in H. M. Flasdieck Mittelengl. Originalurkunden (1926) 58 (MED) Knowen be hit to all Cristen that y, Geffrey Bussh, [etc.].
1442 in J. Raine Hist. & Antiq. N. Durham (1852) App. 105 Be it knawen..vs..till haue made ordayned [etc.]..Alexander Home..our bailye.
c1503 R. Arnold Chron. f. xxxviijv/2 Be it knowen to al men by theis presentis me, T. H. of oxenford glouar, ordeyne [etc.].
1544 J. Bale Brefe Chron. Syr I. Oldecastell f. 41v Knowen be yt here to all the worlde, that he neuer sens varyed in anye poynt therfro.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Antony & Cleopatra (1623) v. ii. 172 Be it known, that we the greatest are mis-thoght For things that others do. View more context for this quotation
1658 J. Jones tr. Ovid Invective against Ibis 75 Be it known to all, what payments fall must light on Cater Tray [i.e. the middle classes].
1734 J. Mackenzie Treat. Concerning Origin & Progress Fees ii. 65 Be it known to all Men, That I A, heritable Proprietress of the Lands and others after mentioned,..Have sold and disponed [etc.].
1837 C. Lyell Let. 29 Aug. in C. Darwin Corr. (1986) II. 41 Be it known then to you and others who have read what Von Buch wrote on Norway.., that his notion of the granite overlying the transition rock arose from this.
1882 Ballou's Monthly Mag. July 75/2 Jack, be it known, was the only real, ‘true-blue’ friend that Chris had in the whole Richards family.
1905 Smart Set Oct. 3/1 A ‘knife-thrower’, be it known, is parlance for waitress.
1956 W. S. Burroughs Let. 13 Oct. (1993) 333 Be it known that such nameless ass holes will suffer a painful doom.
2000 Cornish World Oct. 28/2 Be it known to you all that the Bards of the Council..are agreed in their choice of the Bard Jowan An Cleth to serve in succession to me as Grand Bard.
b. to let it be known (also to make it known): to inform others that something is the case, esp. indirectly; to announce, declare. Also with clause introduced by how, what, etc.
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a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) i. l. 2134 (MED) He schal this dredful trompe blowe Tofore his gate, and make it knowe How that the jugement is yove Of deth.
1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Surueyeng xli. f. 53v Than lette it be knowen howe many acres of errable landes euery man hath in tyllage.
1538 Bp. J. Longland Serm. Good Frydaye sig. F.ii Shewe what it is, let it be knowen that remedye maye be had.
1622 W. Gouge Of Domesticall Duties vii. 642 God in his word hath plainly made it knowne that it is his pleasure that they who are vnder the authority of masters should obey them.
1660 T. Pierce Impartial Inq. Nature Sin 192 I am free to make it known what he hath done in this kinde.
1708 J. Disney Ess. Laws against Immorality & Prophaneness 134 You may punish upon Information in any Part of the County, if those that should do it will not; and let it be known, that you will do so.
1785 Gentleman's Mag. Oct. 533/1 Let it be known that this man..cast himself on thine infinite mercy through Jesus Christ.
1842 F. Marryat Percival Keene I. viii. 87 He made it known that there would only be a half holiday, and we were consequently all called in for morning lessons.
1851 Notes & Queries 28 June 527 (advt.) Mr. F. G. Tomlins..is desirous to make it known that a Twenty years' experience with the Press and Literature,..enables him to give advice and information to Authors.
1912 Amer. Mag. July 285/2 She let it be known where she could be found day and night.
1943 E. M. Almedingen Frossia iv. 169 The good Boyarin made it known that her dowry would be..five hundred souls.
2006 Vanity Fair (N.Y.) Feb. 147 Jagger let it be known that he had bought three complete sets of Everyman's exquisitely bound collection.
c. to make oneself known: to become known (to others) by means of one's actions, abilities, etc.; (also) to introduce oneself.
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1530 Myroure Oure Ladye (Fawkes) (1873) i. 14 And on Ester day the same houre he met with too of his disciples goyng towarde Emaus, & made hymselfe knowen to them in brekyng of brede.
1682 I. Newton Let. 3 Apr. in Corr. (1960) II. 373 I conceived it might help forward his design to be introduced to such acquaintance that by conversing with them he might make himself known.
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 123. ¶5 He could no longer withhold making himself known to him.
1840 Jrnl. 14 Mar. in F. Mathew Founding of N.Z. (1940) 80 I first visited a native Pah..and I made myself known to them as a Rangatira or chief in the service of Her Majesty.
1845 Ld. Campbell Lives Chancellors III. xciv. 441 To make himself known at Court as an antiparliamentarian lawyer.
1866 H. B. St. Marie Let. 23 Apr. in Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs (1867) II. 130 He made himself known to me and acknowledged he was the same party I thought he resembled to.
1962 M. Gee in Landfall Country 34 Becket's got some kid up..so just before the race I go round and make myself known to this kid.
1998 Regatta Oct. 26/3 Mike quietly worked his way through the OUBC selection process in his first year, making himself known on the water and demonstrating his now well-known qualities as a strokesman.
2001 S. Fatsis Word Freak xii. 175 After Alfred Butts made himself known to the company, Selchow trotted him out on a publicity tour.
P3.
a. Used with an indirect question as object in various idiomatic expressions suggesting common sense, worldly knowledge, shrewdness, etc. Chiefly in particular fixed phrases which are more fully dealt with elsewhere, as to know what o'clock it is at o'clock adv. 1b, to know which way the wind blows at wind n.1 16b, to know on which side one's bread is buttered at butter v. Phrases 2a, to know what's what at what pron., adv., int., adj.1, conj., and n. Phrases 2b, etc.
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a1529 J. Skelton Why come ye nat to Courte (?1545) sig. D.1v Yet whan he toke first his hat He said he knew what was what.
1546 J. Heywood Dialogue Prouerbes Eng. Tongue ii. ix. sig. Kiv [He] knew, whiche waie the wynde blew.
1546 J. Heywood Dialogue Prouerbes Eng. Tongue ii. vii. sig. Kv I knowe on whiche syde my breade is buttred.
1547–8 Vox Populi Vox Dei (1821) iv. 16 I knowe not whate acloke.
1631 T. Powell Tom of All Trades 171 He knowes how many dayes goe to the weeke.
1663 S. Butler Hudibras: First Pt. i. i. 12 He knew what's what, and that's as high As Metaphysick wit can flie.
1721 C. Cibber Refusal i. 7 Does his Grace think I don't know which side my Bread's butter'd on?
1781 M. P. Andrews Baron Kinkvervankotsdorsprakingatchdern iii. 71 I always said you knew what's what.
1834 T. B. Macaulay in G. O. Trevelyan Life & Lett. Macaulay (1876) I. 373 I quite enjoy the thought of appearing in the light of an old hunks who knows on which side his bread is buttered.
1860 E. Eden Semi-attached Couple xix. 237 Now that is just what i want, somebody who knows which way the wind blows, and who will tell me what I may, or may not do.
1939 S. Fox in D. Coulter Columbia Workshop Plays 77 If there's ony mon who knows what day it is, it's Sam Small!
1962 TV Times 28 Dec. 6/2 An egg-timer, I repeated with the assurance of a man who knew which way the sand trickled.
?1973 R. Galton & A. Simpson Best of Steptoe & Son (1989) 139 Harold. The vicar still ain't forgotten when you did the crossword puzzle. Albert. Dah, he don't know what time of day it is, he don't.
1994 R. Davies Cunning Man 390 One of those sisters, the heroic Emily, must certainly have known how many beans made five.
2005 C. Tudge Secret Life Trees ii. 37 If foresters don't know what's what, they can finish up making horrible mistakes.
b. Similarly with certain nouns as object. Cf. Phrases 5.to know the ropes: see rope n.1 Phrases 5. to know the score: see score n. 14d. to know all the answers: see answer n. Phrases 3.
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1840 R. H. Dana Two Years before Mast ix. 74 The captain, who..‘knew the ropes’, took the steering oar.
1845 B. Disraeli Sybil III. vi. viii. 234 ‘Why, at your time of life, my dears, we never even heard of these things, much less talked of them.’..‘I should think you didn't, widow... But we know the time of day now as well as any of them.’
1897 ‘Ouida’ Massarenes xxxii. 394 ‘She knows the time o' day’, said the other.
1957 Listener 5 Dec. 925/2 He would come to dinner, swallow his soup, and then fall fast asleep. The servants knew the drill and kept his other courses warm.
1962 J. D. Salinger Franny & Zooey 167 You've been around schools long enough to know the score.
2001 New Internationalist Nov. 12/3 Times are changing because ordinary people are street-smart, because they know the ropes.
P4. In —— knows, with God, heaven, etc., or later a (coarse) slang word, as subject, used (a) to emphasize the truth of a statement; (b) to imply that something is unknown to the speaker; ‘I don't know’; see also sense 11b(b).Chiefly in fixed phrases, which are more fully dealt with elsewhere, as God knows at god n. and int. Phrases 1d(b), Heaven knows at heaven n. Phrases 3d, (the) Lord knows at lord n. and int. Phrases 2e, etc.
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a1555 N. Ridley in M. Coverdale Certain Lett. Martyrs (1564) 77 It is impossible to set forth..al yt was (God knoweth) tumultuously spoken.
1654 Trag. Alphonsus i. 12 Thus am I wrong'd, God knows, unguiltily.
1682 T. Otway Venice Preserv'd iv. 45 Heaven knows if yet there be an hour to come E'r Venice be no more!
1792 R. Burns Let. 6 Dec. (2003) II. 166 I am a Placeman, you know; a very humble one indeed, Heaven knows.
1839 M. Gardiner Governess 195 I found him out in his tricks, and that was, goodness knows, very often.
1862 J. R. Lowell Biglow Papers 2nd Ser. ii. ii. 80 ‘Lord knows’, protest the polliwogs, ‘We're anxious to be grown-up frogs’.
1892 W. H. Acklan Sterope xxvi. 82 Lordy knows I wants to see Marse Désiré marry Miss.
1896 McClure's Mag. Sept. 348/2 ‘Are they coming after us, my lord?’ ‘Heaven knows! I suppose so.’
1934 E. Pound Let. 2 Feb. (1971) 253 What was economics, or inevitable 30 years ago, is now just plain god damn stupidity, and people not having the guts to think what the monetary system is. Hell knows the neo-communists won't.
1948 G. H. Johnston Death takes Small Bites v. 107 ‘Who does he fix the deal with?’ ‘God knows! D'ye think the skulls tell us that?’
1995 N. Blincoe Acid Casuals iii. 17 Was that good or bad? Fuck knows.
2006 M. S. Klise Regarding Bathrooms 18 Heck knows I could use some help running this town.
P5.
a. to know one's ——: to have learnt everything necessary about ——; to be well informed about ——.Originally chiefly in various fixed expressions. to know one's business: see business n. Phrases 6. to know one's liripoop: see liripipe n. 2a. to know one's stuff: see stuff n.1 7g.
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1559 J. Aylmer Harborowe sig. H They must know their quarter strookes, and the waye how to defende their head.
1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones II. ix. iii. 302 These [Heroes] are said to know their Man, and Jones, I believe, knew his Woman.
1776 C. Dibdin Seraglio i. ii. 9 Gun. Why I thought to myself; thinks I, the young Youth does not know his Soundings. Reef. Know his Soundings! Why he'll run bump a-shore for want of a Pilot.
1863 C. Kingsley Water-babies iii. 123 If they want to describe a finished young gentleman in France, I hear, they say of him, ‘Il sait son Rabelais.’ But if I want to describe one in England, I say, ‘He knows his Bewick.’
1891 C. MacEwen Three Women in Boat 72 Surprise-turns and crooked bends make you, if you know your river, as crafty as any old fox.
1931 B. Marshall Father Malachy's Miracle iv. 73 I know my theology too well to be guilty of any leanings toward modernism.
1952 J. Lait & L. Mortimer U.S.A. Confidential ii. xvi. 181 Quigg comes from a ‘17th St. family’ which, if you know your Denver, is a breath above even the city's mile-high rarefied atmosphere.
1991 Premiere Aug. 30/2 He knows his cinema grammar—why he's put something in a two-shot or why he didn't want a close-up.
b. colloquial (originally and chiefly U.S.). Used in same sense, but with substitution of a comically inappropriate noun, esp. the name of a vegetable or other foodstuff.Earliest and chiefly in to know one's onions: see onion n.1 Phrases 1.
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1922 Harper's Mag. Mar. 530/1 Mr. Roberts knows his onions, all right.
1924 Iowa City Press-Citizen 16 Jan. 6/3 We found him not only delightful to meet, but a lawmaker who ‘knows his oil’.
1929 Sat. Evening Post 16 Nov. 41/3 R is for Road Driver, the name long-distance haulers give the lad that knows his cucumbers.
1976 W. Guthrie Seeds of Man 45 This clamper gave me a good chance to..sound like I really knew my okra on the handle of my guitar.
1995 Muzik July 28/1 It's where every DJ who knows his carrots goes to be seen for the summer holidays.
P6. Proverbial uses.
a. what one doesn't know doesn't hurt one and variants.
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1576 G. Pettie Petite Pallace 168 So long as I know it not, it hurteth mee not.
1863 L. E. Guernsey Tattler vi. 175 What people don't know don't hurt them.
1869 Quiver 23 Jan. 243/2 What she doesn't know can't hurt her. But he knows already.
1895 Med. & Surg. Reporter 21 Dec. 765/2 Some of the blind and blundering procedures remind one of a very common expression of women..‘What you don't know will never hurt you!’
1908 E. Walter Easiest Way iii. 66 What a fellow doesn't know doesn't hurt him.
1939 E. S. Gardner in Street & Smith's Detective Story Mag. Jan. 11/1 And has it ever occurred to you, sir, that what Sergeant Ackley doesn't know won't hurt him?
1992 A. Lambert Rather Eng. Marriage (1993) vi. 115 Everyone's entitled to their privacy and what you don't know can't hurt you.
2009 Vancouver Province (Nexis) 31 July a58 I do not know who else is running and I do not care. What you don't know doesn't hurt you, eh?
b. one never knows (what one can do) till one tries and variants.
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1639 R. Abbot Young-mans Warning-peece (new ed.) 64 (margin) They know not what they can do in good because they try not.
1725 M. Davys Self-rival iv, in Wks. I. 50 Oh! you don't know what you can do, till you try; you will think very different then from what you do now.
1819 W. Cobbett Year's Resid. U.S.A. ii. vi. 182 A man knows not what he can do 'till he tries.
1897 P. White Passionate Pilgrim 49 ‘There isn't fish to catch,’ she returned incredulously. ‘You never know till you try,’ said I.
1945 N. Coward Willy in B. Day N. Coward: Compl. Lyrics (1998) 230/1 Love's a thing to conjure with, Willy, You don't know until you try.
1968 D. Francis Forfeit xiv. 217 ‘Ty, you aren't fit to drive.’ ‘Never know what you can do till you try.’
1991 D. Purcell Place of Stones (1992) iv. 135 Sure, why don't you have a go, Father? You never know till you try!
c. to know (all) is to forgive (all). [Probably after French savoir c'est pardonner (1836 or earlier); compare quot. 1860.]
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1860 Chambers's Jrnl. 3 Nov. 277/2 The French proverb which says, Savoir c'est pardonner, ‘To know all, is to forgive all’.
1899 Strand Mag. June 703/2 Dear Hugo—I know all: and to know all is to forgive all.
1899 Jrnl. Proc. & Addr. 38th Ann. Meeting (National Educ. Assoc.) 79 ‘To know is to forgive’, as the proverb has it.
1914 Virginia Law Reg. 20 636 In judging human beings we should emphasize their excellencies rather than defects. As has been said, to know all is to forgive all.
1952 K. Fuller Silken Cord xv. 175 After all, to know all is to forgive all, as my poor dear father used to say.
1994 D. Irvine Massenet (1997) xiv. 178 He understands Werther's torment, and ‘to know is to forgive’.
2008 N.Y. Times (Nexis) 3 Aug. 16 She seems motivated by the idea that to know all is to forgive all, less because her parents deserve forgiveness than because she can't bear to hate them.
P7.
a. to know otherwise: to be aware of information or evidence to the contrary. Similarly (now nonstandard) to know different.
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?1586 R. P. tr. D. Ortúñez de Calahorra Third Pt. First Bk. Mirrour of Knighthood xliv. f. 228v For if they had knowen otherwise,..they were such knights, that they would not haue affirmed that which they had sayd for all the kingedome of Hungaria.
1678 G. Fox & J. Burnyeat New-Eng.-fire-brand Quenched i. 151 And thou sayst, The Quakers in the latter Years in Lancashire came from the Grindletonians... This is also false, the Grindletonians know otherwise.
1692 W. Salmon Medicina Practica i. xiii. 65 He thinks that which is made by Nature, is better than that which is done by Art. But by Experience I know otherwise.
1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones IV. xii. xiii. 300 I might have thought it was the Devil's Money, and have been afraid to use it; but as you know otherwise,..it would be an Affront to Fortune to part with it all again. View more context for this quotation
1824 W. E. Andrews Crit. & Hist. Rev. Fox's Bk. Martyrs I. 40 Others say, that as St. Peter raised the see of Antioch before he established that of Rome, the bishop of Antioch ought to have supremacy. St. Ignatius however,..knew different.
1854 J. E. R. Hornblower Vara xiii. 143 I oncet used to think arter the same fashion; but I knows different now.
1900 Cincinnati Lancet-Clinic 20 Jan. 58/1 These gentlemen now know different, and that a university management is a business.
1973 E. H. Colbert Wandering Lands & Animals viii. 209 Certain early students..thought the pyrotheres to be a branch from the proboscideans. We now know otherwise.
1993 D. A. Smith In Cube xi.156 Physicists may claim that space-time can be bent into viable four-dimensional Loopholes only far away from Sol's distorting gravity, but I know different.
b. not to know (any) different (colloquial): to have only experienced one set of circumstances in life; (also) not to know it is better to do things differently; to be uninformed or ignorant. Also to know no different. Cf. not to know any better at Phrases 9a.
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1855 Putnam's Monthly July 22/1 Hadn't no education, ye see, an' don't know different.
1894 A. W. Brayley Schools & Schoolboys of Old Boston iii. 32 As they and their fathers knew no different, they asked no better.
1912 J. B. Connolly Wide Courses 102 The poor kid, of course, don't know any different.
1966 D. Elser Ticket to City 17 They don't know any different, so they never miss him [sc. their father].
1999 Northern Echo (Nexis) 11 Mar. 10 For most common criminals the answers are obvious: I needed the money, it's the way I've been brought up, I know no different.
2004 W. B. McCloskey Raiders iii. xvi. 227 The others had his pickety-pick from the start so they don't know different.
P8. to know what it is: see what pron., adv., int., adj.1, conj., and n. Phrases 2d.
P9.
a. to know no better: not to be wiser, more discerning, or more prudent (than to do something); to be uninformed or ignorant. Also not to know any better and variants; cf. not to know (any) different at Phrases 7b.
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1602 R. Shelford Lectures (new ed.) 19 They [sc. parents] themselues were brought vppe so rudely too, & so they teach their children no more, because they knowe no better themselues.
1644 J. Milton Of Educ. 3 Others lastly of a more delicious and airie spirit, retire themselves knowing no better, to the enjoyments of ease and luxury, living out their daies in feast and jollity.
1726 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. Nov. (1966) II. 71 I leave the great World to Girls that know no better.
1771 Mem. Lady Woodford I. 46 But you are a simpleton, and don't know any better yet.
1795 W. Cowper Pairing Time 6 The child who knows no better, Than to interpret by the letter A story of a cock and bull.
1824 Ld. Byron Don Juan: Canto XVI lxiv. 96 She was country born and bred, And knew no better..Than to wax white—for blushes are for quality.
1880 Harper's Mag. June 82/2 He..would say, with a compassionate air, ‘Poor crayture! poor crayture’! as if the poor crayture could not be expected to know any better.
1897 Sat. Rev. 2 Jan. 8/2 The Dean and Chapter..being..artistically ignorant, and socially mundane and precinctuary,..know no better.
1919 F. Hurst Humoresque 189 The Eyetalians maybe didn't know no better.
1958 Observer 15 June 15/7 A muddle-headed momma..who knows no better than to drive away her husband..by constant yackety-yack.
1981 J. Sullivan Only Fools & Horses (1999) I. 1st Ser. Episode 3. 33 Well Vimmal, he wouldn't know any better, would he, eh?
2001 P. Barham Sci. Cooking ix. 139 Knowing no better, I had assumed the white bulb one bought from the supermarket was a clove.
b. to know best: to have the greatest knowledge or wisdom.Usually with the implication that the person in question should therefore be deferred to.
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1486 J. Mirk's Liber Festiuall (Rood & Hunte) sig. d.ix/2 He seyth that it is as fer from erthe to heuen as a holy man myght leue a thousand yere and euery day go a thousand myle. But he that mette this wey knowithe beste [1483 knoweth hit beste], and this wey shall be mette of a ryghtfull & a goode man.]
1672 J. Lacy Dumb Lady iv. i. 54 You Learned men know best, I leave all to you.
1747 Fortune's Tricks in Forty-six 43 I say it is so—and surely I ought to know best, who am full ten Thousand Pounds a wiser Man than yourself.
1796 M. Edgeworth Parent's Assistant (ed. 2) 109 For my part, ma'am, I know you knows best, but I should be afraid to let any of those Villaintropic folks get into my house.
1823 Brothers viii. 39 Aye, you told me so, sure enough, but I thought I knew best, and so I would not listen to you.
1891 T. Hardy Tess of the D'Urbervilles I. vii. 90 ‘Very well; I suppose you know best,’ replied Tess with calm abandonment.
1936 M. Lawrence School of Femininity ix. 215 The depression in the United States has brought to the surface a small battalion of matriarchal writers, looking wise and saying, ‘Mother knows best’.
1992 Daily Express 9 Sept. 9/6 These editors are telling us and our children that we're not to be trusted, that they know best.
c. to know better (formerly also †better things): to be wiser, more discerning, or more prudent, or have better manners, than to do something. Also without comparative clause, esp. with should or ought to.
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the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > common sense > be sensible [phrase] > increase in sense
to know better (formerly also better things)a1680
to grow up1951
a1680 Ld. Holles Considerations Prelates i. 218 in Let. to Friend (1682) But for the penning of Records, both Mr. Hunt and Mr. W. know better, than to think the Clerks in those times stuffed them with Tautologies.
1692 R. L'Estrange Fables cii. 97 One would have thought you had known Better Things, then to Expect a Kindness from a Common Enemy.
1732 Vanelia ii. i. 21 You and I know better, than to think that a fine young Lady is in love with Age and Impotence.
1760 C. Johnstone Chrysal I. ii. vii. 180 Come, come, mistress! one of your trade should know better things, than to ask for money back again!
1788 J. Skinner Eccl. Hist. Scotl. II. lix. 678 That a serious respect to, and diligent study of, the language..should be despised and scoffed at by those who ought to know better.
1831 W. Youatt Horse viii. 123 Glanders have often been confounded with strangles, and by those who ought to have known better.
1872 Punch 24 Feb. 78/2 Some persons who should know better than to talk nonsense.
1886 J. Ruskin Præterita I. xii. 431 Nothing to blame themselves in, except not having known better.
1939 L. Yutang Moment in Peking i. i. 5 The elder maid..was silently smiling, being secretly glad that she had known better than to overdress.
1990 T. Robbins Skinny Legs & All 177 People who ought to know better were delighted with his upbeat redneck manners, his muscles, his aloha shirts and new red beret.
2000 R. J. Evans Entertainment xii. 175 It was like a deep sea, where all was calm, but you knew better than to take chances with it.
P10. not that I know: = not that I know of at Phrasal verbs.
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1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet ii. ii. 156 Pol. Hath there been such a time..That I haue positiuely said, tis so, When it proou'd otherwise? King. Not that I know . View more context for this quotation
1761 L. Sterne Life Tristram Shandy IV. Slawkenbergius's Tale 61 He has got a defluxion, said the traveller—Not that I know, cried the host.
1808 Rep. Trials Col. A. Burr II. 11 Chief Justice. Is not that denied to be law? Mr. Randolph. Not that I know.
1882 Ld. Tennyson Promise of May i, in Locksley Hall. 60 Dobson. He's been arter Miss Eva, haän't he? Dora. Not that I know.
1986 S. Grafton C is for Corpse xvi. 140 ‘Does the name Blackman mean anything to you?’ ‘Not that I know.’
P11. to know no bounds: (chiefly of immaterial things, esp. emotions or qualities) to have no limits or restrictions; to be unrestrained.
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1613 F. Beaumont Masque of Inner Temple & Grayes Inne sig. Cv These streames, Which rolling downe from heauen aspiring hils,..swell in glorie till they know no bounds.
1618 S. Daniel Coll. Hist. Eng. 181 In this violence which knowes no bounds, they presume to abridge the Queene of her maintenance.
1673 T. Culpeper Plain Eng. 8 Creditors seem confin'd by Law, whilst Chapmen, methinks, know no bounds.
1754 T. Hartley Serm. Var. Subj. Pref. p. xviii Piety was now termed Puritanism, Profaneness and the Love of Pleasure knew no Bounds.
1830 C. Macfarlane Armenians II. ix. 158 At this abjurement of errors..the delight of the seraffs and of all their connexions, knew no bounds.
1873 J. E. Cooke Her Majesty the Queen i. iv. 21 Miss Villiers is confidential maid of honor to her majesty, and..her devotion knows no bounds.
1956 R. F. Nichols Advance Agents Amer. Destiny i. 18 He had maintained valuable Philadelphia connections, notably with those leading merchants, Robert Morris and Thomas Willing, whose interests seemed to know no bounds.
1995 Computer Weekly 4 May 35/1 Even relatively closed E-mail networks can be attacked by logic bombs via the Internet, proving if nothing else that the ingenuity of virus peddlers knows no bounds.
P12. for all (that) —— knows: conceivably; used to emphasize that a person has not sufficient information to have or offer an informed opinion, or (esp. in for all I know) is merely speculating. Cf. for prep. 25b. Similarly for aught (that) —— knows.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > knowledge, what is known > know [phrase] > according to one's knowledge
to a person's knowledgec1500
for all (that) —— knowsa1616
to the best of a person's knowledge1768
in the light of1870
a1616 W. Shakespeare All's Well that ends Well (1623) v. iii. 282 It might be yours or hers for ought I know. View more context for this quotation
1624 H. Wotton Elements Archit. 105 [This] word (being in truth his owne, for ought I know).
1675 C. Cotton Burlesque upon Burlesque 7 For all I know, thou much do'st glory In thy renowned Oratory.
1731 A. Pope Epist. to Earl of Burlington 11 Some are Vellom, and the rest as good For all his Lordship knows.
1785 J. Mecom Let. 30 Nov. in Lett. to B. Franklin (1859) 140 He may deserve a halter for all I know, notwithstanding his being a branch of a good family.
1811 I. Pocock Any thing New ii. vii. 44 The evening is so dark, that, that blockhead La Roque may have blundered into the fish-pond for all I know.
1836 J. S. Popkin Three Lect. Liberal Educ. 65 It may be all pure Greek, or all pure Hebrew, or both, for aught that those know, who know little or nothing about either.
1860 A. S. Roe He could he help It? xv. 175 Cursing yourself and all the rest of mankind—why, it may, for all I know, relieve your stomach a little, but it hurts my ears dreadfully.
1898 Argosy May 291 Yet for aught I knew the duchess might be in dire peril.
1909 Chatterbox 322/2 For all that we knew, the combe might be full of militia.
1937 D. Runyon More than Somewhat v. 104 Leaving the wop yelling very loud, and maybe cussing us in wop for all I know.
1955 Greece & Rome 2 33 The legend that the waters of the Styx proved fatal to Alexander the Great may be true for aught I know.
1994 J. Kelman How Late it Was 117 It felt like there was a jaggy nail digging into the side of one [toe] and it was probably bleeding for all he knew.
P13. to know one's place: see place n.1 15b.
P14. to get to know.
a. To gain understanding of, acquire a practical knowledge of (something); (also) to commit (something) to memory.
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1621 T. Proctor Righteous Mans Way vii. 41 But now to conclude this chapter, get to know and haue in minde, not the ten commandements onely, but also the other commandements which branch themselues out of those ten.
1791 G. Dixon Navigator's Assistant Pref. p. viii Our Pupil..must be taught the..Table of Logarithms;..then let him get to know the Names of all the Lines of F10. p. 18.
1823 T. Cosnett Footman's Direct. 211 Some coachmen who live twenty years in a place are so stupid that they cannot get to know the round of visits, but depend entirely on the footman to direct them.
1870 Remembrancer 8th Ser. 51 When we get to know that it is spiritual baptism that saves, this meaning gives us life.
1912 J. P. Bate tr. B. Ayala Three Bks. Law of War II. 139 As the proverb goes, we ought to get to know the times, so as to avoid what usually happens in ill-starred schemes.
1981 God, bless this Food ii, in N. E. Koenig Runaway Heart If you get to know your tables well, math will be easier for you all your life. That kind of memory work is important.
2007 P. Race & R. Pickford Making Teaching Work iii. 26 To help you to get to know their names, once you have a complete list of these ask people..some (easy) questions..to help you to put names to faces.
b. To become acquainted or familiar with (someone or something) over time.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > make friends with [verb (transitive)] > make acquaintance
yknowOE
knowc1175
strike1595
to get to knowa1622
a1622 N. Byfield Comm. First Epist. St. Peter (1637) i. 179 Thou maist come to acquaintance with the Father, by living amongst the children: thou maist get to know God by living amongst the godly.
1660 J. Trapp Comm. Holy Script. xxxiii. 320 Gods praying people get to know much of his mind above others: like as John, by weeping, gat the book opened; and Daniel, by prayer had the Kings secret revealed unto him in a night vision.
a1752 R. Erskine Serm. (1777) II. xviii. 51 How do the saints get to know the love of God to them?
1771 Guardian II. 16 May 2 So matters have been contrived, that he could never get to know her mind thoroughly.
1821 M. Sterndale Life of Boy I. vi. 147 ‘What made you get to know so much about trees?’ ‘I know no more, my dear, than I suppose every one knows who exercise their senses and their faculties.’
1843 C. Dickens Martin Chuzzlewit (1844) xx. 253 Nobody else can tell her how hard I tried to get to know you better, in order that I might get to know her without seeming to wish it; can they?
1876 Rep. Case Commonw. vs. John Kehoe et al. 15 During the time that you went in Schuylkill County, down to March, 1876, did you get to know any of these defendants?
1952 D. S. Thomas et al. Salvage ii. 269 I got to know them because I had to deliver things to their employers. After I got acquainted, I used to go see them in between deliveries.
1996 J. Sharman-Burke et al. Compl. Bk. Tarot 18 Getting to know your Tarot deck is obviously a vital part of the initial process of understanding Tarot.
2012 P. Carfizzi in E. Olin Singing in Russ. vi. 127 Growing up, my impression of Russian was from old war movies. The ‘enemies’ [sic] language inevitably..never sounded beautiful, but as I got to know Russian I found it to be quite the opposite.
c. To find out, discover. Also intransitive.
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the mind > attention and judgement > discovery > find out, discover [verb (transitive)]
seeOE
fanda1000
finda1200
kenc1330
lenda1350
agropea1393
contrive1393
to find outc1405
outsearch?a1439
ripec1440
inventc1475
disclose?a1500
fish1531
agnize?1570
discover1585
to grope out1590
out-find1590
expiscate1598
vent1611
to learn out1629
to get to know1643
develop1653
ascertain1794
stag1796
root1866
to get a line on1903
establish1919
1643 B. Agar King James, His Apopthegmes §21. 12 That in the Primative Church of Rome, there were inferiors to Bishops, and were but seven in number;..but how they..become the Electors of the Papacy, I cannot get to know.
a1656 A. Gray Eleven Communion Serm. (1716) ix. 107 There are many among us that go from our Being, before that we get to know, why we had a Being.
1746 R. Rauthmell Antiqvitates Bremetonacenses vi. 61 By knowing what these British words signify, which make up the name of a station, we get to know some remarkable thing to illustrate the history of that station.
1787 J. Timbury Story of Le Fevre 11 I fear'd your honour's patience would be tir'd, E'er I could get to know what you desir'd About the sick Lieutenant and his Son.
1834 Rep. of Inq. Existing State Corporation of Hull 325 We only wanted to see that they charged nothing but what was right—to get to know what the law required us to pay.
1892 Rev. of Reviews Feb. 57/1 At present you do not know where the hitch is, but when you get to know, then half the battle is won.
1898 J. Conrad Tales of Unrest 172 What would she think tomorrow? He must find out. And yet how could he get to know?
1971 N. Mokgatle Autobiogr. Unknown S. Afr. viii. 45 During their time together they told each other stories about their people and tribes, and as a result the man from her tribe got to know that grandmother was alive.
1996 P. Franklin Pied Cloak i. 29 They got to know that I am a very light sleeper, and that often in the night I would go for a prowl round.
2004 J. Trecksler Tears of San Antonio lxv. 354 She got to know her son, if only for a moment, and he got to know that his mother wasn't all bad.
P15. Phrases with it used to denote a fact or event (see sense 11d).
a. and (he, she, etc.) knows (also knew) it: and (he, she, etc.) is (or was) well aware of the fact.
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1694 W. Congreve Double-dealer i. 5 She's handsome, and knows it.
1759 Court Intrigues 239 She is beautiful, knows it, and, no Doubt, will set a Price upon herself.
1848 E. C. Gaskell Mary Barton I. vi. 103 The son was strikingly handsome, and knew it.
1898 G. B. Shaw Mrs. Warren's Profession iii. 208 I'm not a young man, and I know it.
1932 E. V. Lucas Reading, Writing & Remembering xi. 182 Meredith was very handsome, and he knew it.
1990 I. Rankin Hide & Seek 157 Rebus had Holmes at a disadvantage, and knew it. ‘I hope you've been busy while I've been having a chinwag.’
2002 Untold June 139/3 One of the fittest girls we've seen in a while—totally buff and knows it.
b. colloquial. not if I know it: used to indicate that one will take care that the thing referred to does not come to pass. Cf. not if I (he, she, etc.) can (also could) help it at help v. Additions. Now rare.
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1834 C. A. Somerset Sea ii. v. 35 in Cumberland's Minor Theatre VII Kit. In short, we are going to be married tomorrow morning. Jack. Not if I know it.
1865 A. Trollope Miss Mackenzie I. ii. 33 ‘Tom,’ said I, when he asked me to go down to Drunder Street, ‘not if I know it.’
1874 T. Hardy Far from Madding Crowd I. iv. 52 After that, do you think I could marry you? Not if I know it.
1921 Times 1 Feb. 2/4 (advt.) ‘What! buy a car,’ said N. to B. ‘Not if I know it.’
a1983 J. Leftwich tr. S. Lewin Dark Mountains & Blue Valleys (1988) xi. 52 She's going to try to get him into her Communist Party. Not if I know it!
c. colloquial. don't I know it: I am well aware of it, you need not tell me.
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the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > knowledge, what is known > know [phrase]
don't I know it1839
you're telling me (also us)1921
1799 W. Scott tr. J. W. von Goethe Goetz of Berlichingen i. 9 George. Had I been with you last time, you would not have lost your cross-bow. Goetz. Do you know that? George. You threw it at your antagonist's head; one of his squires picked it up, and ran off with it.—Don't I know it [Ger. Gelt, ich weiß]?]
1839 Bentley's Misc. 5 497 False to me! Don't I know it? Why again?
1899 R. Kipling Stalky & Co. 151 ‘We didn't always knock him about, though!’ ‘You did when you could catch him... Don't I know it!’
1936 ‘R. West’ Thinking Reed xii. 419 ‘I hate it,’ she said. ‘I hate it.’..‘Don't I know it,’ said Alan.
1964 J. Creasey Look Three Ways x. 96 ‘He's in a mess..that poor devil is.’ ‘And don't I know it?’
1997 B. MacLaverty Grace Notes (1998) 115 ‘Look, things are not the same as in your day.’ ‘Don't I know it.’
d. colloquial (originally U.S.). wouldn't you (just) know it?: used to suggest that a particular turn of events was only to be expected, or is especially fitting or (esp.) ironic. Also wouldn't you (just) know?.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > lack of surprise [phrase]
it is great, little, small wonderOE
no selcoutha1250
no ferlyc1275
(and) no wonder!1390
no wonder that, if, or though1390
what ferlya1605
what wonder if1667
I shouldn't wonder1836
small wonder that1913
wouldn't you (just) know?1919
1919 B. King City of Comrades viii. 120 ‘Wouldn't you know it?’ Miss Barry said, lightly. ‘One of the nicest rooms in the house.’
1946 H. P. M. Brown Sound of Hunting i. 52 Wouldn't you know? Of all the days to get stuck out there, he has to pick this one.
1973 Washington Post 13 Jan. B. 8/7 Wouldn't you just know. Lorne Greene, also known as Ben Cartwright, has gone right out and gotten himself another steady job; this time with the ABC network.
1999 in D. Bolger Ladies' Night at Finbar's Hotel 247 She arrived at the back of the hotel instead of the front and wouldn't you know, for all their penthouse and fancy exterior, it had stacks of garbage bags outside, just like anywhere else.
2003 T. Litt Finding Myself 62 I drove over to pick him up. And, wouldn't you know it, he'd brought his bloody dog!.
P16. to know the reason why: to demand (and get) an explanation, esp. of why an intended event has not occurred. Cf. reason n.1 10.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > causation > cause or reason > [phrase] > why > know the reason why
to know the reason why1719
1719 Court Misc. No. 1. 20 I'll have my Earl as well as She, Or know the Reason why.
1767 T. Gray Let. 5 Nov. in Corr. (1971) III. 979 Come quickly, if the main chance will suffer you, or I will know the reason why.
1825 R. S. Hawker Cornish Ballads (1869) 1 And shall Trelawney die? Here's twenty thousand Cornish men Will know the reason why!
1857 A. Trollope Barchester Towers II. vi. 106 He made the promise in the bishop's name, and if it is to be broken, I'll know the reason why.
1934 G. B. Shaw On the Rocks ii. 68 My Union Jack men would keep order, or theyd know the reason why.
1941 Punch 20 Aug. 155/2 Two months ago Herr Hitler said his armies would sweep through Russia or he would know the reason why.
1968 Times 21 June 1/1 Now they were going to get six of the best where it hurt most, or Mr. Wilson would know the reason why.
2004 OC Weekly (Nexis) 12 Mar. 100 We would have pillow fights, or I'd know the reason why!
P17. all one knows.
a. Everything one knows how to do; everything one can.
ΚΠ
1751 Universal Mag. Nov. 203/2 Poor M. Bury the Commander did all he knew, and all he could.
1824 in G. T. Curtis D. Webster (1870) I. 266 ‘You find it hard work enough this morning, I think,’ said Mr. Webster. ‘Yes, Sir,’ said the boatman, ‘it puts a man up to all he knows, I assure you.’
1872 Punch 27 Jan. 40/2 Both men will do all they know, and a clinking good contest is expected.
1883 D. C. Murray Hearts II. 206 He was not accustomed to be badgered in this way, and it cost him all he knew to restrain his anger.
1902 F. McElrath Rustler xv. 237 Horace chafed her hands and poured some whisky down her throat, and did all he knew to restore her.
1999 J. Elium & D. Elium Raising Teenager iii. 46 The right medication seemed to steady him, and I did all I knew to help him recognize his talents and abilities.
b. colloquial. Adverbially: to the utmost of one's ability. Also (now chiefly) all one knows how.
ΚΠ
1822 Sporting Mag. Jan. 190/2 A hare, which proved a ‘teaser’, leaving her eager pursuers no other alternative than ‘to play all they knew’, and ‘prove their metal’.
1863 in F. Moore Rebellion Rec. V. 72/1 ‘They are here in large force,’ said he to the General. ‘Pitch into them all you know how,’ was the prompt response.
1889 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Robbery under Arms II. ii. 21 A good many men tried all they knew to be prepared and have a show for it.
1889 R. S. S. Baden-Powell Pigsticking 173 If they find themselves being pursued..they will shoot round on the instant, and make the running ‘all they know’ back again.
1927 A. W. L. Fawcett Films, Facts & Forecasts xv. 142 In these surroundings the players must ‘emote’ all they know.
1982 M. Seide Common Wilderness (1983) 655 I warned him... I kept warning him all I knew how.
2001 C. R. Hart & M. K. Grossman Insulin-Resistance Diet p. xi You've tried every diet, read every book, and exercised all you know how, but you still can't lose weight.
P18.
a. what does (also would) (a person) know?: used as a dismissive rhetorical question, implying the person referred to lacks the capacity or necessary information to understand something fully. Also with about, of.
ΚΠ
1761 London Mag. Feb. 61/2 Your savage notions are ridiculous—what do you know of a husband's feelings?
1807 Cobbett's Weekly Polit. Reg. 10 Jan. 45 Highly useful and necessary indeed! And what do you know about the high usefulness and necessity of Yagers?
1824 T. C. Croker Researches S. Ireland v. 83 What do doctors know about sick people?
1846 A. Marsh Father Darcy II. v. 107 It may be the same divinity, what do I know?
1911 W. S. Johnson Glamourie vii. 106 The man was a fool of course. What would a policeman know of a high soul's craving for communion with the Quiet?
1951 D. Bevan & E. Trzcinski Stalag 17 ii. ii. 51 I'm only a corporal..what do I know?
1969 B. Harris Catching Saradove 192 You were just sitting there on Clive's lap, like a scaredy-cat baby or something—what would you know?
1999 S. Stewart Sharking iv. 60 What would you know about it, cobweb fanny?
b. colloquial. that's all you know (also that's all you know about it): you do not know all the facts, you do not understand (used dismissively of a remark made by the person addressed).
ΚΠ
1825 J. Neal Brother Jonathan II. xvi. 93 ‘They've got you, you mean.’—‘That's all you know about it!’
1863 D. M. Craik Fairy Bk. 110 ‘Never did I see anyone who could at all compare with you.’ ‘That's all you know,’ said the princess.
1876 A. Trollope Prime Minister III. xi. 183 ‘They may do foolish things, dear; and yet..not interfere with politics.’ ‘That's all you know about it, Plantagenet.’
1930 E. H. Young Miss Mole ii. 20 ‘And breakfast in bed is not what you want, Hannah.’ ‘That's all you know about it,’ Hannah said.
1961 I. Fleming Thunderball ii. 19 ‘I wouldn't have thought these people would be interested.’.. The young man snorted, ‘That's all you know.’
2001 C. Storr If Game (2002) xiv. 87 That's all you know. Girls can know about football just as well as boys.
P19. With cognate object. Now rare.
a. to know one's (own) know: to be confident or secure in one's own understanding or knowledge of things; to know one's own business. In later use Irish English.
ΚΠ
1764 P. Gibbes Hist. Lady Louisa Stroud II. 176 He makes no other Answer than, that he knows his own know.
1793 M. Pilkington Rosina II. xxiv. 279 Aye,..he know'd his own know for that, I warrant him.
1842 Godey's Lady's Bk. Feb. 63/1 Ye've supped sorrow sure enough a-lannan; but I know my own know, a cushla.
1896 J. K. Snowden Web of Old Weaver x. 124 Still, she knew her own know, and reckoned up other folk very sharply.
1905 Westm. Gaz. 8 Dec. 2/1 I know me own knows!
1925 S. O'Casey Shadow of Gunman 35 He knew his own know, an' would keep it to himself.
1977 T. Murphy Famine in Plays: 1 (1992) 41 We all know our know then?
b. Irish English. In emphatic statements of ignorance (of a fact, etc.), as never (also not, devil, sorrow) a know I know, etc.: I do not know at all.
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1795 W. Macready Bank Note ii. 27 Sir. Cha. Which way? Kill. The devil a know I know sir.
1827 G. Griffin Tales Munster Festivals I. 339 Sure, never a know do I know, Miss.
1835 Tait's Edinb. Mag. Jan. 98/1 Why, thin, divel a know I know. But this I know full well to my cost, that I never set eyes on him since.
1851 Chambers's Edinb. Jrnl. Dec. 396 Not a know do we know of what they done with that or anything.
1885 A. Trollope Land-leaguers i. 6 ‘You do,’ said Ada. ‘How was it done? Who dit it—and why?’ ‘Sorrow a know I know,’ said the boy.
1900 R. Boldrewood Babes in Bush xviii. 269 ‘Tom, do you happen to know anyone of your own name in this part of the country..?’ ‘The divil a know I know,’ replied Tom.
1922 Atlantic Monthly Feb. 178 So he pays Jack's passage out to New York, an' what the ind av him was, not a know do I know.
1957 S. O'Casey Let. 26 Nov. (1989) III. 498 One of my favorite plays is Strindberg's Dream Play. What form is it in? Divil a know I know.
P20. as if (a person) didn't know: used to imply that a person is feigning ignorance; (hence, esp. in as if I didn't know) used to imply that something is well-known or obvious.
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1765 G. Colman tr. Terence Phormio ii. ii, in tr. Terence Comedies 554 Pshaw! I will not tell.—As if you didn't know, You're come to try me.
1844 G. P. R. James Rose D' Albret 112/2 ‘Come, come, now,’ answered Prior, in a tone of jocular reproach; ‘as if I didn't know, Bill.’
1888 C. Reade Hard Cash (new ed.) 141 ‘Where is the other lantern?’ was Robarts's first word on reaching the deck: as if he didn't know.
1942 College Eng. 4 65 What is this unworthy purpose? you ask, as if you didn't know.
1987 S. Bellow More die of Heartbreak 250 ‘I have a great-uncle in politics—’ ‘Vilitzer. As if I didn't know.’
2004 Independent 12 Jan. 31/1 I refer—as if you didn't know—to the big issue of the moment: have Julia Sawalha and Alan Davies married?
P21. colloquial.
a. do you know: used, frequently parenthetically, to introduce a noteworthy or surprising fact, observation, etc.
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1772 F. Burney Early Diary (1889) I. 160 Do you know, it stands me in a hundred a year for chaises?
1776 T. Francklin Contract ii. 31 Betty, I'm the happiest creature in the universe. Do you know I've regain'd my freedom, am mistress of myself, [etc.].
a1817 J. Austen Northanger Abbey (1818) I. vi. 67 Do you know, I saw the prettiest hat you can imagine. View more context for this quotation
1849 J. Ruskin Let. 24 Apr. in M. Lutyens Ruskins & Grays (1972) xxi. 185 Do you know, pet, it seems almost a dream to me that we have been married.
1910 H. S. Johnson Williams on Service x. 110 But do you know, the little villain has taken French leave and gone anyway.
1933 D. Thomas Let. 25 Dec. (1987) 75 My sister has just returned from a week's holiday in Paris, and, do you know, she didn't go to the Louvre once.
2002 H. Holt Leonora (2003) x. 111 She was..groomed within an inch of her life—do you know, she said she goes for a manicure every single week!
b. (do) you know something?: = do you know at Phrases 21a. Cf. you know what? at what pron., adv., int., adj.1, conj., and n. Phrases 2c.
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1879 Catholic World Aug. 583/2 Do you know something? I begin to be sorry for having refused that offer.
1897 M. J. Safford tr. G. Ebers Barbara Blomberg I. xviii. 242 Do you know something, Luis? The best results have often followed my most reckless acts.
1949 A. Miller Death of Salesman i. 21 It got so embarrassing I sent him to Florida. And you know something? Most of the time he's talking to you.
1971 J. Brunner Honky in Woodpile v. 37 ‘You know something?’ We looked expectant.
1972 J. Wilson Hide & Seek ii. 29 Do you know something, Mary? Mr Harris is the nicest man I know, except for my father.
2003 M. Salzman True Notebooks iv. 40 You know something, the thing I hate most about my life is when I stress.
P22. to know what one likes: used to imply that a person knows which works of art, poems, etc., he or she likes without necessarily having an informed opinion to support these preferences.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > love > liking or favourable regard > [phrase] > without informed opinion to support view
to know what one likesa1780
a1780 J. Harris Philol. Inq. (1781) ii. xii. 233 Some intrepid spirit may demand again, What avail these subtleties?—Without so much trouble, I can be full enough pleased.—I know what I like.—We answer, And so does the Carrion-crow.
1864 Cornhill Mag. Mar. 337 ‘I know what I like,’ is the not over sapient remark made on such occasions by those who affect..an interest in some particular class of art.
1873 H. James Compl. Tales (1962) III. 72 I went with Harold a great deal to the Louvre, where he was a very profitable companion. He had the history of the schools at his fingers' ends, and, as the phrase is, he knew what he liked.
1959 Listener 9 July 75/3 In reality, she was just a wealthy collector. She knew what she liked.
1974 R. Hill Very Good Hater xi. 93 ‘Are you interested in art?’ asked Mrs Housman politely. ‘I know what I like,’ he answered.
2001 Grand Rapids (Mich.) Press (Nexis) 9 Sept. n1 I won't claim to know much about music, but, as they say, I know what I like, and I liked the symphony of Thursday afternoon.
P23. to know little (or nothing) and care less: to be unconcerned (about); to be ignorant (of) and willing to remain so. Cf. sense 10b.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > inattention > be inattentive [verb (intransitive)] > be unconcerned
not to pass a fly (also fig, pin, point, straw, whit, etc.)?1548
matter1678
to know little (or nothing) and care less1783
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > want of knowledge, ignorance > be ignorant [phrase] > know nothing
to say (also know) neither buff nor stye?a1750
to know little (or nothing) and care less1783
not to know beans1833
not to have the remotest1864
(not) to know from nothing1933
not to know shit from Shinolaa1948
1783 J. Murdoch Pictures of Heart I. iii. 149 About the propriety of this or that mode of worship,..he knew little, and cared less.
1814 J. Austen Mansfield Park II. xi. 251 ‘I know nothing of the Miss Owens,’ said Fanny calmly. ‘You know nothing and you care less, as people say. Never did tone express indifference plainer.’
1853 E. Bulwer-Lytton My Novel II. viii. iv. 322 ‘Ah!’ said Egerton, who, as it has been before said, knew little, and cared less, about the Hazeldean pedigree, ‘I..had forgotten it.’
1924 R. H. Mottram Spanish Farm i. 71 Madeleine knew little and cared less as to what this might mean, except as it affected the work of the farm.
1925 F. Harris My Life & Loves III. xii. 183 The great London doctors knew nothing about leprosy and cared less.
1937 N. Coward Present Indicative viii. v. 321 Even at the time we realised in our hearts that the bulk of the public knew nothing about Sirocco and cared less.
2006 D. Winner Those Feet 123 The World Cup was still regarded as a faraway competition of which we knew little and cared less.
P24. to know something when one sees it and variants: to be able to identify something for what it truly is. Used esp. to emphasize one's acute judgement or indicate that one cannot be easily fooled.With quot. 1785 cf. to know what's what at what pron., adv., int., adj.1, conj., and n. Phrases 2b.
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1785 C. Macklin Man of World i. 13 I know what's what, when I see it.
1842 Ainsworth's Mag. 6 26 I know madness when I see it.
1872 Times 2 Aug. 8 I know a fact when I see it.
1904 Windsor Mag. June 305/2 Do you think I don't know a love-look when I see it?
1959 Daily Tel. 13 Nov. 12/2 Their followers know double-think when they see it.
1987 J. Dailey Heiress v. 56 I know tears when I see them.
2000 W. Monahan Light House xlii. 205 I know gangrene when I see it.
P25.
a. before one knows it: very soon, very quickly.
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1795 F. Reynolds Rage 70 I shall be a dead man, before I know it.
1844 tr. ‘C. Sealsfield’ Rambleton 201/1 Cunning chap, that Harry! He'll turn you before you know it!
1884 Cent. Mag. Dec. 254/2 Before he knew it his son had him out of his class day spread at Harvard.
1896 G. Ade Artie xvii. 154 This thing got the half-Nelson on me before I know it.
1913 W. Wilson in L. E. Sullivan Bandits & Bibles (2003) 198 They take another jolt and before they know it, they become ‘dope’ fiends themselves.
1937 Amer. Home Apr. 101/1 (advt.) Almost before you know it, there'll be cool, crisp curtains at your windows.
1986 R. A. Jamieson Thin Wealth 55 Before she knew it, they were sitting O-levels and Highers and were off to university in Aberdeen.
2003 M. Salzman True Notebooks vii. 72 One Latino fool threw his gang sign and jumped this black fool, and before you know it, fools are jumping on other fools.
b. before you know where you are, etc.: = before one knows it at Phrases 25a.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > relative time > immediacy > immediately [phrase]
without restc1225
but bodea1300
without residence1488
before you know where you are1803
in a heartbeat1860
before (one) can say knife1874
1803 Anti-Gallican 1 No. 8. 245/1 So luff up Bony or you'll be fast a ground before you know where you are.
1840 W. M. Thackeray Catherine v [We] found ourselves regular knights of the road, before we knew where we were almost.
1916 A. Huxley Let. 30 June (1969) 104 Steps must quickly be taken, or we shall find the place full of effigies and all the money spent before we know where we are.
1930 W. S. Maugham Breadwinner ii. 102 Almost before you know where you are, they're young men and women with characters of their own.
1970 C. Whitman Death out of Focus xii. 183 You're a clever devil... You'll be an Inspector before you know where you are.
2001 J. Boyle Galloway Street 35 And before you know where you are he's jooked away past you and put in a cross to Owen Mangan or Tommy Duignan.
P26. to be known to the police: (of a person) to have a criminal record; to be considered a suspicious character by the police.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > rule of law > lawlessness > break the law [verb (transitive)] > mark as criminal or suspect
spot1718
to be known to the police1804
1797 Times 27 Jan. 3/4 He has a brother and a sister..who daily parade the metropolis, committing depredations, who are known to the Police Officers.]
1804 Times 1 May 3/2 This agent, spy, and emigrant, and [sic] who has received his pardon, was already known to the Police.
1828 T. B. W. Dudley Tocsin 36 [He] appears to me to be rather too delicate of the liberty of the subject, as regards suspicious characters, or those known to the police.
1857 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Feb. 179/1 The definite number of thousands of convicted thieves at large,..all ‘known to the police’, and yet living in perfect security under the wing and eyes of the law.
1924 A. Christie Poirot Investigates ix. 255 Billy Kellett?.. He's known to the police!
1938 F. D. Sharpe Sharpe of Flying Squad ix. 112 A long communication telling us that Mrs. Cousins was not ‘known to the police’.
2000 Sunday Times 23 July (Mag. section) 53/2 Most have not a blot on their character, but a good few are antisocially inclined (some ex-attendees of the local behaviour adjustment unit) and are frequently well known to the police.
P27.
a. I'd like to know: used parenthetically with a question, generally with implication of indignation, irritation, etc.
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1810 R. T. Spence Minstrelsey of Edmund the Wanderer 153 Of what avail, I'd like to know, You envious unregarded foe, Is your derisive look of scorn?
1886 Harper's Mag. Apr. 696 What's kept her from being trodden down by these Wissan Bridge racketers, I'd like to know?
1939 D. Thomas Let. July (1987) 389 And what have I got to sparkle about I'd like to know?
1991 J. Barth Last Voy. Somebody the Sailor 451 What's to become of us simple, hardworking sex-slaves and entertainers, I'd like to know?
2003 C. Birch Turn again Home iii. 42 And what, I'd like to know, was that decent education for?
b. U.S. regional (chiefly New England). (I) want to know!: used to express surprise. Now rare.
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1833 J. Neal Down-easters I. 45 I want to know! exclaimed the other down-easter. Well, you do know, replied the southerner.
1840 Knickerbocker 16 20 ‘I want to know!’ said the lady; ‘precious soul!’
1904 J. C. Lincoln Cap'n Eri iii. 39 ‘I want to know!’ exclaimed Captain Perez. ‘You don't tell me!’ said Captain Jerry.
1963 N. Hale New Eng. Discov. p. x There is no more Yankee sentiment than that summed up in the vernacular rejoinder, ‘Well, I want to know!’
1968 E. Coatsworth Maine Memories 155 They exclaim, ‘Want to know!’ at a piece of news.
c. colloquial. wouldn't you like to know?: said teasingly in response to a question, esp. as an indication that the speaker may not give an answer; similarly wouldn't he like to know?, etc.
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1860 M. C. Harris Rutledge xxii. 289 ‘What did he say, pray?’ ‘Wouldn't you like to know!’ she cried, in her teasing, school-girl fashion.
1891 C. O'Brien Lover & Half ii, in Possible Plays for Private Players 10 Clem. Anglice? Alg. Wouldn't you like to know?
1941 I. Baird He rides Sky 123 The old crumpet fires off a lot of bilge like..‘What do you do in your spare time?’ (wouldn't he like to know?)... And so on and on.
1963 M. Borrelli Street Lamp & Stars xiv. 127 ‘And what did you do, Naso Stuorto?’ ‘Wouldn't you like to know.’ ‘I can guess.’
2003 L. F. Stolarz Blue is for Nightmares (2004) vii. 48 ‘Where were you tonight, anyway?’ I ask. ‘Wouldn't you like to know? You saw me leave the cafeteria with Donovan.’
d. not to want to know: (a) to show no interest; to be unwilling to take notice or get involved; (b) to act as if one is unacquainted with, to refuse to have dealings with (a person).
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the mind > attention and judgement > inattention > ignoring, disregard > ignore [verb (intransitive)]
overhipa1325
to hide one's facea1382
to look aside1530
to look beside ——1533
not to hear on that side1548
to look through the fingers1549
to pull away the shoulder1560
connive1602
to turn a (also the) blind eye1698
to bury (or hide) one's head in the sand1844
Nelson eye1893
not to want to know1948
the mind > attention and judgement > inattention > ignoring, disregard > ignore, disregard [verb (transitive)] > not care about
value1591
matter1652
(not) to give (something or someone) a (also another) thought1762
not to want to know1948
1948 ‘N. Shute’ No Highway iii. 79 I was trying to tell her what to do if things look bad. But if she doesn't want to know, I can't do more.
1967 Listener 14 Sept. 326/1 After doing a hard week's work I had nothing in my pocket..nothing at all and that went on for four years... After that I said: ‘Well, that's it. I don't want to know. I can get a living a lot easier than going to work.’
1969 Focus Feb. 16/2 But if you are paying it all in on a Friday, and taking it all out again on Saturday, do not be surprised if the building society does not want to know you.
1973 Times 19 Sept. 13/4 (advt.) Graduates you have a problem. If you wanted the summer following graduation free, you missed out on the ‘milk round’. Many employers don't want to know by the autumn.
1992 D. Robins Tarnished Vision vi. 46 In England, when children reach a certain age, they don't want to know you. They stand up with fists to you.
2007 Western Daily Press (Bristol) (Nexis) 24 Dec. 17 On a couple of occasions they have even been stopped or seen going into their own homes. But the police don't want to know.
e. you (really) don't want to know: said teasingly or evasively in response to a question, especially as an indication that the answer may be shocking, embarrassing, or otherwise disagreeable to the enquirer.
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1899 Life 16 Mar. 214/1 ‘How much, did you say?’ ‘Oh, you really don't want to know.’
1944 Morning Bull. (Rockhampton, Austral.) 9 Mar. 2/3 He asked his wife where she was going and she said, ‘You don't want to know.’
1959 L. Abel in Partisan Rev. Fall 545 Jesse: Let's have the whole story. Marianne: (with much coquetry)..No, you really don't want to know.
2009 J. Kellerman True Detectives x. 93 ‘I..predict the correlation between economic downturns and the rise of insurgency in Malaysia.’ ‘How's it looking for Malaysia?’ ‘You don't want to know.’
P28. if you know what is good for you, etc.: used as a threat or warning to reinforce an order or direction.
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1821 Rep. Trial E. Hall vs. R. Grant 13 If Miss Hall and her friends know what is good for her, she will abandon the suit.
1833 A. Greene Life & Adventures Dr. Dodimus Duckworth I. xiii. 168 Let alone beating him, if you know what's good for you.
1847 C. Carey Lady of Green & Blue xiii. 51/1 You'd better be off out of this latitude, if you know what is good for you.
1903 Outlook 15 Aug. 943/2 If they know what is good for them they will not get in the way of this social and industrial evolution.
1956 M. Dickens Angel in Corner x. 179 Stay away, if you know what's good for you.
2000 Z. Smith White Teeth (2001) v. 85 I just told him to shut it, and he'll shut it if he knows what's good for him.
P29. Chiefly British. to be not to know: to have no way of learning. Usually with indirect statement.
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1833 W. G. Simms Martin Faber xiii. 126 He was not to know that I had most effectually acquitted him, to her, of the offence, for which he anticipated her scorn and hatred.
1898 Times 19 May 16/4 They were not to know that the Russophile passage in Mr. Balfour's Bristol speech was a mere oratorial tag.
1957 F. Hoyle Black Cloud (1960) 18 Pity you didn't show it to me right away. But of course, you weren't to know.
1985 W. Radice in tr. R. Tagore Sel. Poems (1994) Introd. 31 [The translation] also leaves out a whole verse, though the English reader is not to know that.
1997 Business Age Sept. 11/1 True, you were not to know he was about to die, but criticism on one of our true business legends is totally unnecessary, out of place and unfair.
P30. to know too much: to be in possession of knowledge (esp. about criminal activity) which places the person at risk of being killed, imprisoned, etc.
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1835 D. Crockett Acct. Col. Crockett's Tour 73 Jackson used these very men like dogs: they knew too much, and must be got rid of, or they would stop his profligacy too.
1853 W. B. Devereux Lives & Lett. Devereux Earls Essex I. x. 300 Philip..resolved to get rid of the servant who knew too much, and the favoured rival, at one blow.
1875 A. E. Young Wife No. 19 xv. 262 (heading) How ‘accidents’ happened to people who ‘knew too much’.
1922 G. K. Chesterton (title) The man who knew too much.
1953 A. Christie After the Funeral xxi. 163 ‘And why should anyone want to kill you, beautiful Rosamund?’.. ‘Because I know too much, of course.’
1995 Entertainm. Weekly 7 Apr. 64/3 Mick..is dispatched by a fellow hood, George (Peter Boyle), to knock off Fiona (Mimi Rogers), a broad who knows too much.
P31. as we know it: as is familiar or understood at the present time.
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1838 N. Amer. Rev. Jan. 54 The past, as we know it, is made by man.
1893 19th Cent. Mar. 470 The hansom as we know it bears little resemblance to the cumbrous vehicle designed by the inventor.
1927 Amer. Mercury Feb. 220/2 It ignores the palpable fact that all life as we know it comes from death.
1964 J. P. Getty My Life & Fortunes ii. 23 Without oil, there would be—there could be—no civilization as we know it.
1987 G. Lister Star Trekkin' 3 It's life Jim but not as we know it.
2001 DJ 4 July 69/3 It's the real deal with live musicians playing some wonderful jazz over the kick drum, which is the only element that has anything to do with house music as we know it.
P32. to know where one is with someone: to know how one is regarded by or what to expect from someone; to know the views or attitude of someone.
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1828 Times 23 Dec. 2/3 We do not eulogize the Bank of England circulation;..but still we know where we are with respect to that corporation, or at least we cannot be deceived much.]
1845 B. Disraeli Sybil I. ii. x. 227 You knew where you were with those fellows; it was five-and-twenty per cent off wages and very bad stuff for your money.
1919 T. S. Eliot Let. 29 Mar. (1988) I. 280 I know where I am with them.
1982 A. Fraser Cool Repentance (1986) ix. 110 At least you know where you are with the police, at least the police are doing a job of work.
2001 A. Sayle Dog Catcher 61 She didn't know where she was with this lot, there was a funny vibe she'd never encountered before.
P33. to know what (a person or type) is like: to be familiar with the behaviour, habits, etc., of (a person or type); to be able to predict how (someone) will behave or react on the basis of this familiarity. Frequently in you know what he (she, etc.) is like, often expressing resignation or exasperation. Cf. sense 7d.
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1845 E. M. Sewell Gertrude II. xliv. 200 ‘You know what she is like when things go wrong.’ Edith did know from bitter experience.
1890 L. Ensor tr. A. Daudet Jack ii. iii. 332 You know what he is like. Very kind but inexorable.
1957 M. Moore Let. 25 Jan. in Sel. Lett. (1997) 537 Well, we know what artists can be like.
1960 J. Symons Progress of Crime xiv. 88 You know what he's like, cool as a cuke.
1992 T. Davies Modest Pageant 117 I'm all right—honest. It's just Les—you know what he's like when he turns.
2003 Amer. Sociol. Rev. 68 235/2 You know what women are like—they tend to fight more when they're put together.
P34. to think one knows it all: to have an inflated idea of one's knowledge, wisdom, expertise, etc.; to be oblivious to one's deficiencies. Also simply to know it all. Cf. know-it-all n.
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1857 Harper's Mag. Nov. 845/1 You, who had read the novels and thought you knew it all, learned..that no pictures are like the reality.
1892 C. Sotheran Horace Greeley iii. 118 Some of the capitalistic idlers, who know it all, and smack their lips over ‘Chateau-Margaux’, believing it to be the best and purest French vintage; whereas [etc.].
1912 Science 20 Dec. 842/2 The manager of the college thinks he knows it all, and therefore has no need of advice.
1972 G. Durrell Catch me Colobus vi. 111 As I had warned Long John, there comes a time on every collecting trip when you begin to think that you know it all. This is a moment of great danger, for you never know it all, however hard you try.
1973 Black World Sept. 97/1 To my once respected student who has taken over the pompous entitlement as chief white critic of inferior Black literature, let me say..: ‘Stop knowing it all.’
1997 Canberra Times (Nexis) 30 Nov. a21 There was one professor who thought he knew it all—he was about as useful as a chocolate teapot.
P35. colloquial and slang. Used in various phrases such as you know what you can do (with it), you know where you can put (also shove, stick) it, etc., expressing contemptuous dismissal or rejection through implied or explicit reference to a more emphatic phrase such as ‘stick it up your arse!’ (see stick v.1 Phrases 9).
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1885 Amer. Machinist 14 Nov. 7/1 It seems to me..that you are finding considerable fault with the way I do business; if you don't like it, you know what you can do.
1911 R. A. Wason Knight-errant xxxiii. 360 ‘I guess you know where you can stick those two dollars,’ flashed the boy angrily.
1951 R. Terrall Steps of Quarry xvi. 293 You know what you can do with it, Scotty? You can stick it up your ass.
1982 E. Mann Still Life ii. i. 26 He can take those slides and you know where he can put em. Right up his butt.
1999 W. W. Johnstone Hatred in Ashes x. 115 ‘You know where you can shove that order, don't you, Van?’ Red challenged.
2007 T. Brown White Lies 25 I don't give a fuck what Mommy says. She knows what she can do with her curfews.
P36. I know (what)!: ‘I have an idea!’
ΚΠ
1904 St. Nicholas Sept. 1000/1 If you'll be good, and not go peeping and prying and tale-tattling, I'll..I know! I'll save you both my honeycake, every day at supper.
1933 ‘L. G. Gibbon’ Cloud Howe ii. 70 I know! Let's go and see Segget at night.
1995 G. Kamani Junglee Girl (1996) 22 I know what! When DeSouza comes in today, Savitri should read her sum like this: ‘One plus one cow plus one Italian.’
2006 S. Preece in S. Maguire Little Black Dress 168 I could play the tambourine—or—I know!—I could have a little skellington on a string and rattle him in time to the music!
P37. colloquial (originally U.S.). what do you know?: used to express surprise (also what do you know about that?); also used parenthetically (cf. do you know at Phrases 21a).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > surprise, unexpectedness > exclamation of surprise [interjection]
whatOE
well, wellOE
avoyc1300
ouc1300
ay1340
lorda1393
ahaa1400
hillaa1400
whannowc1450
wow1513
why?1520
heydaya1529
ah1538
ah me!a1547
fore me!a1547
o me!a1547
what the (also a) goodyear1570
precious coals1576
Lord have mercy (on us)1581
good heavens1588
whau1589
coads1590
ay me!1591
my stars!a1593
Gods me1595
law1598
Godso1600
to go out1600
coads-nigs1608
for mercy!a1616
good stars!1615
mercy on us (also me, etc.)!a1616
gramercy1617
goodness1623
what next?1662
mon Dieu1665
heugh1668
criminy1681
Lawd1696
the dickens1697
(God, etc.) bless my heart1704
alackaday1705
(for) mercy's sake!1707
my1707
deuce1710
gracious1712
goodly and gracious1713
my word1722
my stars and garters!1758
lawka1774
losha1779
Lord bless me (also you, us, etc.)1784
great guns!1795
mein Gott1795
Dear me!1805
fancy1813
well, I'm sure!1815
massy1817
Dear, dear!1818
to get off1818
laws1824
Mamma mia1824
by crikey1826
wisha1826
alleleu1829
crackey1830
Madonna mia1830
indeed1834
to go on1835
snakes1839
Jerusalem1840
sapristi1840
oh my days1841
tear and ages1841
what (why, etc.) in time?1844
sakes alive!1846
gee willikers1847
to get away1847
well, to be sure!1847
gee1851
Great Scott1852
holy mackerel!1855
doggone1857
lawsy1868
my wig(s)!1871
gee whiz1872
crimes1874
yoicks1881
Christmas1882
hully gee1895
'ullo1895
my hat!1899
good (also great) grief!1900
strike me pink!1902
oo-er1909
what do you know?1909
cripes1910
coo1911
zowiec1913
can you tie that?1918
hot diggety1924
yeow1924
ziggety1924
stone (or stiffen) the crows1930
hullo1931
tiens1932
whammo1932
po po po1936
how about that?1939
hallo1942
brother1945
tie that!1948
surprise1953
wowee1963
yikes1971
never1974
to sod off1976
whee1978
mercy1986
yipes1989
1909 M. R. Rinehart Man in Lower Ten xii. 103 ‘Well, what do you know about that!’ he exclaimed. ‘That's something you didn't tell me, Lollie.’
1925 Life 23 July 20/2 I will have a couple but we have got to stick to good old cider, and what do you know, Jeff, they didn't have a drop of cider in the hotel.
1943 K. Tennant Ride on Stranger vii. 72 Why, the louse!.. He's glad to get rid of us. What do you know about that?
1957 J. Kerouac On the Road i. xii. 80 And that thousand dollars was..right there on top of the safe, what do you know about that?
1968 ‘A. Gilbert’ Night Encounter v. 80 ‘Well,’ marvelled Frankie, ‘what do you know?’
2003 J. Cohen Farewell to Legs 44 I asked him to transfer me, and what do you know, he did.
P38. colloquial and depreciative (originally U.S.) In phrases indicating that a person would be incapable of recognizing something however obvious it might be, as he (she, etc.) wouldn't know a —— if it bit (also kicked, etc.) him (her, etc.) and variants.
ΚΠ
1919 L. M. Sweet Makin' O' Joe xiii. 178 He wouldn't know a clew if it bit him in the leg.
1943 L. Browne See what I Mean? iv. 33 Christ, he wouldn't know a racket if it reared up and kicked him in the teeth!
1984 ‘W. Tinasky’ Let. 29 Mar. (1996) 16/1 Your poetry editor wouldn't know a poem if it bit her in the ass in broad daylight.
1992 Empire Apr. 24/2 Film Four and British Screen wouldn't know a joke if it sat up and bit them.
2003 I. Edwards-Jones Wendy House iii. 81 You wouldn't know a hard news story if it blew up in your own stationery cupboard.
P39. to know whereof one speaks (also writes, etc.): see whereof adv. 5b.
P40. to know where the bodies are buried: see body n. Phrases 5.
P41. colloquial. I wouldn't know: = I wouldn't know about that at Phrasal verbs.
ΚΠ
1950 J. Cannan Murder Included iii. 44 ‘The bedroom..was only locked by the deceased during her ablutions.’ ‘As you say nowadays—I wouldn't know,’ said Sir Charles.
1969 M. Pugh Last Place Left vii. 45 ‘That's why married people get so complicated in bed, isn't it?’ ‘Do they? I wouldn't know.’
2003 N.Y. Times 6 July ix. 6/1 The bloody mary today..is apparently good without vodka. I wouldn't know.

Phrasal verbs

With prepositions. to know about ——
1. intransitive. To have information about or knowledge of (something). Also sometimes: to be aware of (an event as having occurred); = to know of —— 2 at Phrasal verbs.Often used to express a knowledge of externals, as opposed to real understanding or actual acquaintance.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > knowledge, what is known > have knowledge of [verb (intransitive)]
canOE
to know of ——c1350
savoura1382
understanda1400
kenc1400
weeta1547
to keep up to1712
to know about ——1761
to be (or get) wise to1896
to wise up1905
to have heard of1907
to be (or get) jerry (on, on to, to)1908
1761 Ann. Reg. 1760 ii. Literary & Misc. Ess. 206 He who aims at universal knowledge, may know about many things, but he will properly know nothing.
1791 J. Boswell Life Johnson anno 1763 I. 249 He..called to the boy, ‘What would you give, my lad, to know about the Argonauts?’ ‘Sir, (said the boy,) I would give what I have.’
1824 Rep. Proc. against Rev. J. Smith 85 John Baillie states..that I made answer and said, ‘I have known about this this six weeks.’
1849 H. W. Longfellow Kavanagh 21 There is Mr. Hanson, who wants to know about the cooking range.
1876 J. P. Norris Rudim. Theol. i. iv. 70 Knowing God is an infinitely better thing than knowing about God.
1908 Chicago Tribune 27 Sept. e3 Many a refractory child will allow a loose tooth to be removed if he knows about the tooth fairy.
1927 S. Lewis Elmer Gantry i. 8 If they tell me they didn't know about this, you'll get merry Hail Columbia for not telling 'em.
1961 Listener 30 Nov. 937/1 The molimo, the secret male musical instrument which no woman or child is meant to know about or see.
1981 V. N. McIntyre Entropy Effect iv. 105 You're not the only one on this ship who knows about the whip-lash effect.
2003 N.Y. Mag. 4 Aug. 15/1 He carried a gun. His friends all knew he was strapped. And he made sure everybody knew about it.
2. intransitive. colloquial I don't (later also wouldn't) know about ——: used to suggest reluctance to comment on the validity of an assertion, suggestion, etc. (and sometimes also scepticism on the part of the speaker); frequently as I don't (or wouldn't) know about that. Cf. I wouldn't know at Phrases 41.The replacement of don't by wouldn't in this expression, which seems first to have taken place in American English, may reflect a further distancing of the speaker from the assertion or suggestion being made.
ΚΠ
1815 R. Bloomfield Hist. Little Davy's New Hat i. 5 ‘She will never be the poorer for it, I know.’ ‘I don't know about that,’ said Davy; ‘but I know that I have got it.’
1833 Lady Stepney New Road to Ruin II. vii. 55 ‘Is Dr. C— very clever?’..‘I don't know about his being very clever!..but he's the man I would call in to you..supposing you were sick, and I in any dilemma.’
1840 H. J. Conway Battle of Stillwater ii. ii, in America's Lost Plays (1941) XIV. 129 Cotton. None dare dispute it. Uzz. Well, I don't know about that.
1880 A. Trollope Duke's Children I. iii. 37 ‘I think I have heard your mother speak of her as though she loved her dearly,’ said Tregear. ‘I don't know about loving her dearly. They were intimate.’
1895 S. Crane Red Badge of Courage xiv. 144 ‘They all seem t' think we've got 'em jest where we want 'em.’ ‘I don't know about that,’ the youth replied. ‘What I seen over on th'right makes me think it was th'other way about.’
1930 D. Parker Laments for Living 212 ‘What those big blue eyes of yours do to me is nobody's business. Know that?’ ‘Oh, I wouldn't know about that,’ she said.
1960 L. P. Hartley Facial Justice xvi. 133 ‘Every man has his type, of course—.’ ‘I wouldn't know about that.’
1997 Indianapolis Star 28 Dec. c6/6 It's an act of God when I punt the ball because I don't know how I do it... People talk about hitting the sweet spot, but I don't know about that.
2005 R. Haddock Man from Savannah 220 ‘I guess it's a little tough to be a ladies man when you live at home.’ ‘I wouldn't know about being a ladies man... I guess that would be your department.’
 to know for ——
Now rare (English regional (south-western) and Newfoundland in later use).
intransitive. To be aware or cognizant of; = to know of to know of —— 2 at Phrasal verbs.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > know, be aware of [verb (intransitive)]
wit971
knowlOE
to be aware (of, that)a1250
wota1300
be (well) warec1325
to know of ——c1390
not to seek1569
to know for ——1576
to know on ——1608
to have cognizance of1635
reck1764
to be (or get) wise to1896
1576 G. Pettie Petite Pallace 127 Shee asked him how hee had misused him selfe towards Misteris Pandarina in kissinge her. No way (sayth hee) that I knowe for.
1581 P. Wiburn Checke or Reproofe M. Howlets Shreeching f. 18 Neuer was there any of your side yet, that..euer suffred death, or was executed for this religion, nor any other that I know for, but these few I haue named.
1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 i. ii. 5 He might haue moe diseases then he knew for . View more context for this quotation
1832 F. Trollope Refugee in Amer. II. xxxii. 142 ‘Do you think,’ said Lord Darcy, ‘that she would object to see two of her countrymen?’ ‘Not that I know for.’
1865 Dublin Univ. Mag. July 30/2 I think I know for a pair of prads that will know Mauleverer's out of time.
1901 W. Raymond Good Souls Cider-land vi. 180 Do you know for a good one, sir?
1967 in Dict. Newfoundland Eng. (1982) 288/2 Do you know for a pen? (Where can I get a pen?)
 to know from ——
intransitive. U.S. colloquial = to know of —— 2 at Phrasal verbs. Chiefly in negative contexts, esp. in (not) to know from nothing: to be totally ignorant, have no knowledge or information. [After Yiddish visn nisht fun gornisht, lit. ‘to know nothing about anything’ (frequently in er veyst nisht fun gornisht, lit. ‘he doesn't know anything about anything’).]
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > want of knowledge, ignorance > be ignorant [phrase] > know nothing
to say (also know) neither buff nor stye?a1750
to know little (or nothing) and care less1783
not to know beans1833
not to have the remotest1864
(not) to know from nothing1933
not to know shit from Shinolaa1948
1933 Philadelphia Daily Bull. 1 Feb. 6 You don't know from nothing , you're not very bright.
1936 Mademoiselle Mar. 43/1 I find I belong to the wrong gender to take part in such confabulations, and know from nothing.
1942 L. V. Berrey & M. Van den Bark Amer. Thes. Slang §150/3 Be ignorant, know from nothing.
1945 ‘F. Feikema’ Boy Almighty (1950) xvii. 162 Them San dietitians, they don't know from nuthin'.
1945 T. Shor in H. L. Mencken Amer. Lang. (1948) Suppl. II. 695 A square don't know from nothin' and a creep is worse'n a jerk.
1946 F. P. Scannell In Line of Duty 24 Called me over and said they had something lined up outside town... Hell, I didn't know from anything, but I said no thanks.
1964 J. Charyn Once upon Droshky 74 I worked day and night behind my father's dry goods stand... Who knew from school!
1968 Encounter Sept. 22/1 He knows from nothin'.
1996 T. Rosenbaum Elijah Visible 109 You want to know from a camp? This is a camp.
2007 S. R. Cooper Vegas Nerve 146 The guy minding the front desk is from the Middle East, been in the country about a week, didn't know from nothing.
 to know of ——
1. intransitive. To have or obtain information about (†or experience of).In later use only with specific information (such as the location of a particular person or thing) as object.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > knowledge, what is known > have knowledge of [verb (intransitive)]
canOE
to know of ——c1350
savoura1382
understanda1400
kenc1400
weeta1547
to keep up to1712
to know about ——1761
to be (or get) wise to1896
to wise up1905
to have heard of1907
to be (or get) jerry (on, on to, to)1908
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > knowledge, what is known > familiarity > be or become conversant [verb (intransitive)] > know how to
understanda1300
wit1340
to know of ——c1350
kenc1400
skilla1586
OE Wærferð tr. Gregory Dialogues (Corpus Cambr.) (1900) iii. xv. 205 Gregorius cwæð: þis ic eac ne forswigie, þæt þæt ic gecneow of þam ylcan lande þurh þa sægene þæs arwyrðan weres & mæssepreostes, þam wæs nama Sanctulus.]
c1350 Psalter (BL Add. 17376) in K. D. Bülbring Earliest Compl. Eng. Prose Psalter (1891) cxviii. 152 (MED) Ich knew fram þe bigynnyng of [L. cognovi de] þi wittnesses.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 245 (MED) Of my kin know i no more.
a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) (1891) l. 2643 If euere thou knewe of loue distresse Thou shalt mowe lerne in that sijknesse.
c1475 (a1400) Awntyrs Arthure (Taylor) in J. Robson Three Early Eng. Metrical Romances (1842) 10 Certis, or thay hethun fare, Thay knaue [c1440 Thornton wiete] of mekil care.
1522 A. Radcliffe Let. in B. Cusack Everyday Eng. 1500–1700 (1998) 232 Syr yff it be youre pleswre Ȝe may sende in to the cuntre And then Ȝe may knawe of the custum & the trawthe in all thyngys.
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 354 Þe pepull..Haden..wilfulde desyre To knowe of þere comyng and the cause wete.
1568 Bible (Bishops') Ephes. vi. 22 Whom I haue sent vnto you for the same purpose, that ye myght knowe of our affaires.
1836 Awful Exposure Plot against Clergy & Nuns Lower Canada vii. 93 It appears that he knew of her whereabouts for several days subsequently to the 11th of October, 1834.
1953 M. Wykes-Joyce Triad of Genius iii. xiv. 195 [They] stray into the Pa Pao Shan Golf Club, where it is suggested that perhaps one of the members may know of its location.
1982 Pacific Reporter 635 1131/2 There is no need for a jury to know of defendant's resources while it is determining the amount of compensatory damages.
2008 Grimsby Evening Tel. (Nexis) 6 Sept. 19 If you know of Terry's whereabouts, please contact Tom.
2. intransitive.
a. To be aware or cognizant of (a person or thing as existing, an event as having occurred, etc.).Sometimes contrasted with know, as implying little or no knowledge of anything beyond the existence of the person or thing.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > know, be aware of [verb (intransitive)]
wit971
knowlOE
to be aware (of, that)a1250
wota1300
be (well) warec1325
to know of ——c1390
not to seek1569
to know for ——1576
to know on ——1608
to have cognizance of1635
reck1764
to be (or get) wise to1896
c1390 in C. Brown Relig. Lyrics 14th Cent. (1924) 153 Ȝif he kneuh of his mischeue.
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) ii. l. 974 Therto we be swore, That non bot only thou and we Schal knowen of this privete.
1442 in J. Raine Corr., Inventories, Acct. Rolls, & Law Proc. Priory of Coldingham (1841) 138 (MED) Whilk promysse I never made, ne never knewe of na swilke promysse makyng.
c1500 Melusine (1895) xix. 106 These tydings were ferfourth brought in the land, that Vryan knew of it.
1531 T. Elyot Bk. named Gouernour ii. v. sig. P2v One whiche knewe of the conspiracie agayne hym, & by al lykelyhode did participate therein.
1574 J. Baret Aluearie To Rdr. sig. *.5 Knowing then of no other Dictionarie to helpe vs, but Sir Thomas Eliots Librarie.
1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 ii. iv. 15 Sir Iohn must not know of it. View more context for this quotation
1680 R. Boyle Exper. & Notes Prodvcibleness Chym. Princ. 192 in Scypticall Chym. (new ed.) There is but one minerall body in the world, that we know of, at all heavier than common Quicksilver.
1725 R. Bradley Chomel's Dictionaire Œconomique Balm of Gilead,..Opobalsamum, the finest Balsom we know of.
1766 T. Smollett Trav. France & Italy I. v. 66 I know of no custom more beastly than that of using water-glasses.
1818 W. Cruise Digest Laws Eng. Real Prop. (ed. 2) IV. 40 He knew of no case where an agreement, though all written with the party's own hand, had been held sufficient, unless it had been likewise signed by him.
1858 A. Trollope Three Clerks I. i. 1 All the English world knows, or knows of, that branch of the Civil Service which is popularly called the Weights and Measures.
1873 F. Usher Three Oxonians III. iii. 61 No, I don't know him. I know of him, though.
1882 N. Amer. Rev. Jan. 64 We know of at least seven ovariotomies performed by women.
1916 H. G. Wells Mr. Britling sees it Through i. i. 27 He wished he knew of somebody who could send a recall telegram from London.
1957 J. Braine Room at Top (1960) 140 I've known of married officials who've been told either to stop committing adultery or give in their notice.
1985 P. Abrahams View from Coyaba iii. i. 131 We did not know of the freeing of the slaves.
2007 Independent 19 Mar. (Extra section) 7/3 Nearly all LAM [= lymphangioleoimyomatosis] patients decline. I know of women dying in their sleep.
b. colloquial. that one knows of: to the best of one's knowledge, as far as one is aware. Chiefly in negative contexts, esp. in not that I know of: not so far as I know, not to my knowledge (also (nonstandard) not as I know of). Cf. not that I know at Phrases 10. †not that you know of: used to express defiance of the person addressed, in reference to something he or she is about to do (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > knowledge, what is known > aware of [preposition]
that one knows of1610
on to1877
1610 E. Bunny Of Diuorce for Adulterie 126 It cannot be denied (neither is it, that I know of, by any) but that [etc.].
1654 R. Baxter Apol. against T. Blake & G. Kendall 99 Doth Scripture use to divide Saints, as the Genus into two Species? Not that I know of.
1689 Proc. & Tryal Archbishop of Canterbury & Right Rev. Fathers 55 Do you know My Lord Bishop of St. Asaph's handwriting? Not as I know of.
1696 T. D'Urfey Comical Hist. Don Quixote: 3rd Pt. i. 5 There's three Proverbs for her however; 'tis all the Portion she's like to have, that I know of.
1712 S. Centlivre Perplex'd Lovers iv. 40 He is not yet arriv'd, that I know of.
1741 S. Richardson Pamela III. xxxiii. 310 As Mr. B. offer'd to take his Hand, he put 'em both behind him—Not that you know of, Sir!
1753 S. Foote Englishman in Paris ii. 38 May I flatter myself that your Ladyship will do me the Honour of venturing upon the Fatigue of another Minuet this Morning with me?.. Buck. Not that you know of, Monsieur.
1839 Dublin Rev. Jan. 92 ‘Have they taken pains to ascertain why the number of free scholars is so small?’ ‘Not that I know of.’
1872 ‘G. Eliot’ Middlemarch (1873) v. xliii. 150 Dorothea..had never, that she knew of, seen Rosamond.
1885 Atlantic Monthly June 817/2 ‘And I suppose you are clever, ain't you, mamma?’ She was moved to a laugh... ‘Not that I know of, Geoff.’
1921 B. Tarkington Alice Adams iv. 53 ‘Well, doesn't he hurt us?’ ‘Never that I know of, mama.’
1952 Times 12 Nov. 6/3 When asked if this meant the withdrawal of some American troops into reserve he replied: ‘Not that I know of.’
1990 G. Haslam That Constant Coyote 159 ‘She got aints in her paints?’ ‘Not as I know of.’
2004 J. G. Dunne Nothing Lost i. i. 27 He didn't work out that I knew of, no jogging, no aerobics.
 to know on ——
Now archaic and regional.
intransitive. = to know of —— at Phrasal verbs (in various senses). Cf. on prep. 28.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > know, be aware of [verb (intransitive)]
wit971
knowlOE
to be aware (of, that)a1250
wota1300
be (well) warec1325
to know of ——c1390
not to seek1569
to know for ——1576
to know on ——1608
to have cognizance of1635
reck1764
to be (or get) wise to1896
1608 W. Shakespeare King Lear vii. 347 Regan, I have good hope Thou didst not know ant[1623 on't] . View more context for this quotation
1614 J. Cooke Greenes Tu Quoque sig. F2v He was neuer dead, That I know on.
1783 Double Conspiracy iv. i. 55 I never insulted him as I know on.
1825 J. Neal Brother Jonathan v. 138 They'd no 'casion for a cheer, as they know'd on.
1849 Mrs. Stowe Mayflower 109 ‘Nothin' so remarkable, as I know on,’ said he.
1884 ‘M. Twain’ Adventures Huckleberry Finn xxxiv. 353 ‘Did you ever see us before?’ ‘No, sah; not that I know on.’
1910 V. Appleton Tom Swift & his Motor-cycle xxi. 166 I done tried ebery means I knows on, an' he won't go.
1974 ‘S. Woods’ Done to Death 41 Nobody as I knows on.
1990 C. Palliser Quincunx i. 103 'Twas them for sure, for they're the only folks in this country as has Lunnun servants and carriages, as I knows on.
 to know upon ——
Obsolete.
† intransitive. Scots Law. [Compare Middle French cognestre de, connaistre de (late 14th cent. in this sense; French connaître de).] To take (judicial) cognizance of.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > administration of justice > court proceedings or procedure > trying or hearing of cause > try or hear cause [verb (transitive)]
hearc1160
atry1330
tryc1330
to know upon ——1458
cognosce1607
advise1609
knowledge1609
1458 in Rec. Parl. Scotl. to 1707 (2007) 1458/3/2 The causis that the lordis of the sessione sall knaw apone.
c1532 in W. Fraser Stirlings of Keir (1858) 339 I am contentit that ȝour lordschipis justifie and knaw vpon the said appelacioun.
1609 J. Skene tr. Regiam Majestatem (Form Baron Couris c. 81) 118 The Judge may of law, gar knaw vpon the dead be ane assise.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, November 2010; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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