unkenningadj.
/(ˌ)ʌnˈkɛnɪŋ/, U.S. /ˌənˈkɛnɪŋ/, Scottish English /(ˌ)ʌnˈkɛnɪŋ/, /(ˌ)ʌnˈkɛnɪn/ Scottish.
Unknowing, unaware; ignorant.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > want of knowledge, ignorance > [adjective]
unlearedeOE
untowenc1000
unwittyc1000
skillessc1175
uncouthc1220
lewda1225
lorelessa1300
simplea1325
layc1330
uncunning1340
untaughtc1340
unknowingc1350
rudea1382
roida1400
unquainta1400
ignorant?c1400
unlearnedc1400
misknowing?a1425
simple-hearted?c1425
unknownc1475
unkenningc1480
unweeting1483
nescienta1500
craftlessc1530
misliterate1532
sillya1547
ingram1553
gross1561
inscient1578
borowe1579
plain-headeda1586
empirical1588
rudeful1589
lack-learning1590
learnless?1593
wotless?1594
ingrant1597
untutored1597
small-knowing1598
uninstructed1598
unlearnt1609
unread1609
unware?1611
nescious1623
inscious1633
inscientifical1660
uninformed1702
unaware1704
unable1721
unsuspecting1776
inerudite1801
ill-informed1824
incognoscent1827
unminded1831
unknowledgeable1837
knowledgelessc1843
parviscient1862
clueless1943
c1480 (a1400) St. Ninian 98 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 307 Fore scorne it ware gret to se þe thechure [= teacher] suld vnkennand be.
1788 J. Macaulay Poems Var. Subj. 130 Unkenning how to carp or mourn, Their joy to spoil.
1847 J. Halliday Rustic Bard 261 Unkennin o', uncarin for, cauld care or crosses stern.
1891 Scots Mag. Feb. 171 Dinna pit on that unkenning look.
1918 Scotsman 13 Aug. 6/4 Unkennin', he may mak' the trench His nation's martyrdom.
1986 C. Mackay Song of Forest 151 Under the brown feet of the unkenning reapers.., the strath heaved with the passing of his springtime blood.
2009 Aberdeen Press & Jrnl. (Nexis) 8 Aug. 14 We eest tae hae a sklaik on foo we wid o met unkennin on his faimily's exodus tae Alford.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2018; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.c1480