> as lemmas

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.