know

Webster's Dictionary (1913)

Knee. obsolete Geoffrey Chaucer

Origin: OE. knowen, knawen, AS. cnäwan; akin to OHG. chnäan (in comp.), Icel. knä to be able, Russ. znate to know, L. gnoscere, noscere, Gr. γιγηώσκειν, Skr. jnā; fr. the root of E. can, intransitive verb, ken. √45. See Ken, Can to be able, and cf. Acquaint, Cognition, Gnome, Ignore, Noble, Note.

1. To perceive or apprehend clearly and certainly; to understand; to have full information of; as, to know one's duty.

O, that a man might know The end of this day's business ere it come!— William Shakespeare

There is a certainty in the proposition, and we know it.— John Dryden

Know how sublime a thing it is To suffer and be strong.— Henry W. Longfellow

2. To be convinced of the truth of; to be fully assured of; as, to know things from information.

3. To be acquainted with; to be no stranger to; to be more or less familiar with the person, character, etc., of; to possess experience of; as, to know an author; to know the rules of an organization.

He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin.— 2 Cor. v. 21.

Not to know me argues yourselves unknown.— John Milton

4. To recognize; to distinguish; to discern the character of; as, to know a person's face or figure.

Ye shall know them by their fruits.— Matt. vil. 16.

And their eyes were opened, and they knew him.— Luke xxiv. 31.

To know Faithful friend from flattering foe.— William Shakespeare

At nearer view he thought he knew the dead.— Thomas Flatman

5. To have sexual intercourse with.

And Adam knew Eve his wife.— Gen. iv. 1.

☞ Know is often followed by an objective and an infinitive (with or without to) or a participle, a dependent sentence, etc.

And I knew that thou hearest me always.— John xi. 42.

The monk he instantly knew to be the prior.— Sir Walter Scott

In other hands I have known money do good.— Charles Dickens

To know how, to understand the manner, way, or means; to have requisite information, intelligence, or sagacity. How is sometimes omitted. “ If we fear to die, or know not to be patient.” Taylor, Jeremy

1. To have knowledge; to have a clear and certain perception; to possess wisdom, instruction, or information; — often with of.

Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.— Is. i. 3.

If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.— John vii. 17.

The peasant folklore of Europe still knows of willows that bleed and weep and speak when hewn.— Edward Burnett Tylor

2. To be assured; to feel confident.

To know of, to ask, to inquire. obsolete “ Know of your youth, examine well your blood.” William Shakespeare

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54