know

To perceive the truth or factuality of; to be certain of; to be certain that.

Noun rare, uncountable

  1. Knowledge; the state of knowing.
    • That on the view and know of theſe Contents, […] He ſhould the bearers put to […] death, […] - c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares...
  2. Knowledge; the state of knowing. (Now confined to the fixed phrase in the know.)

Origin

From Middle English knowen, from Old English cnāwan (“to know, perceive, recognise”), from Proto-West Germanic *knāan, from Proto-Germanic *knēaną (“to know”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵneh₃- (“to know”). Cognates from Indo-European: Latin gnoscō, Latin cognoscō (Spanish conocer, French connaître, Romanian cunoaște, Italian conoscere, Portuguese conhecer), Ancient Greek γνωρίζω (gnōrízō, “to know”) and γνῶσις (gnôsis, “knowledge”), Albanian njoh (“to know, recognise”), Russian знать (znatʹ, “to know”), Lithuanian žinoti (“to know”), and Persian شناختن (šenâxtan, “to know”). from Proto-Germanic: Scots knaw (“to know, recognise”), Icelandic knega (“to know, know how to, be able”), Old High German knājan (“to know, recognise”), Old Norse kná (“to know how”). Remotely related also Dutch and German kennen, West Frisian kenne (see English ken).

Forms

knaa knowe

Derived

in the know

Noun alt of, alternative

  1. Alternative form of knowe (“hill, knoll”).
    • Owing to increasing numbers and consequent want of room for nestage, the old birds drove away the younger ones, who took refuge in their present abode at Fox's Know, where they have been located about six years. - 1868,...

Forms

knows

Particle

  1. Used at the end of a sentence to draw attention to information one thinks the listener should keep in mind.
    • Make sure you water the plants, know…
    • I was a naval diver know!
    • Are you sure they’re gonna give you someting more kilat? I think ah, they put you here to hentak kaki, know! - 2011, James Khoo, directed by James Khoo, Hentak Kaki (short film), spoken by SSG (NS) Rajendran (P....

Origin

Shortening of you know (sense 4)—Singapore English favours pro-drop constructions (Wee, 2003).

Related

what lah1–14 lor2–3 lor1 ah6 leh1–2 mah leh3–6 one1–3 hor1 nia only sia hor2 ah1–3 hah1–3 meh ba2 leh7–11 ba1 liao already Gupta A. F. (1992)

Verb

  1. To perceive the truth or factuality of; to be certain of; to be certain that.
    • Question things. I have the most fun when I'm writing questioning things that people do not question- the assumptions that everybody knows are true. - 1985 April 17, Frank Herbert, 15:46 from the start, in Frank Herbert...
    • '[…] I know whether a boy is telling me the truth or not.' 'Thank you, sir.' Did he hell. They never bloody did. - 1991 September, Stephen Fry, chapter 1, in The Liar, London: Heinemann, →ISBN, section II, page 24:
    • I know that I’m right and you’re wrong.
  2. To be or become aware or cognizant.
    • Did you know Michelle and Jack were getting divorced? ― Yes, I knew.
    • Malware's sometimes been known to sit dormant for a long time.
    • ‘A Gentleman!’ quoth the Squire, ‘who the Devil can he be? Do, Doctor, go down and ſee who ’tis. Mr. Blifil can hardly be come to town yet.—Go down, do, and know what his Buſineſs is.[’] - 1749, Henry Fielding, “A...
  3. To be aware of; to be cognizant of.
    • Did you know Michelle and Jack were getting divorced? ― Yes, I knew.
    • She knows where I live.
    • I knew he was upset, but I didn't understand why.
  4. To be acquainted (with another person).
    • You, and I haue knowne ſir. - c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac...
  5. To be acquainted or familiar with; to have encountered.
    • I know your mother, but I've never met your father.
    • Borja, do you know Pilar? - Sure, we've actually met before.
    • I got to know her during the pandemic, so we've known each other for years now.

    1. (transitive, archaic, biblical, euphemistic) To have sexual relations with. This meaning normally specified in modern English as e.g. to 'know someone in the biblical sense' or to 'know biblically'.

      • AFterwarde the man knewe Heuáh his wife, which cõceiued & bare Káin, & ſaid, I haue obteined a man by yͤ Lord. - 1560, [William Whittingham et al., transl.], The Bible and Holy Scriptures Conteyned in the Olde and Newe...
      • Now Gerald had never thought of her having a mother. Then there must have been a father, too, some time. And Miss Wilmarth existed because two people once had loved and known. It was not a thought to dwell upon. - 1939,...
      • Wait a second. Are you… attempting to know me? - 2003 May 11, Garland Testa, 19:37 from the start, in Gary McCarver, director, Night and Deity (King of the Hill), season 7, episode 21, spoken by Dale Gribble (Johnny...
  6. To experience.
    • Their relationship knew ups and downs.
    • The Truman family knew good times and bad,[…]. - 1991, Irvin Haas, Historic Homes of the American Presidents, page 155:
  7. To understand or have a grasp of through experience or study.
    • Let me do it. I know how it works.
    • She knows how to swim.
    • His mother tongue is Italian, but he also knows French and English.
  8. To be able to distinguish, to discern, particularly by contrast or comparison; to recognize the nature of.
    • to know a person's face or figure
    • to know right from wrong
    • I wouldn't know one from the other.
  9. To recognize as the same (as someone or something previously encountered) after an absence or change.
    • At nearer view he thought he knew the dead, / And call'd the wretched man to mind. - c. 1645-1688, Thomas Flatman, Translation of Part of Petronius Arbiter's Satyricon:
    • Ernest also is so much improved, that you would hardly know him:[…]. - 1816 June – 1817 April/May (date written), [Mary Shelley], chapter V, in Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. […], volume I, London: […]...
  10. To have knowledge; to have information, be informed.
    • It is vital that he not know.
    • She knew of our plan.
    • He knows about 19th century politics.
  11. To be able to play or perform (a song or other piece of music).
    • Do you know "Blueberry Hill"?
  12. To have indexed and have information about within one's database.
    • Mmm... Seems you searched for a name that we don't know, we'll send our trained monkeys to check what's in stock. - 2023 June 7, “Search Names and Meanings”, in Name Doctor, archived from the original on 07 Jun 2023:

Forms

knows knowing knew knowed known no-table-tags glossary know knowest knewest knoweth - knaa knowe

Synonyms

coitize go to bed with sleep with

Hyponyms

grok

Derived

acknow all-knowing as far as one knows as we know it as you know be a poet and not know it beknow be not to know better the devil you know by their fruits you will know them damned if I know do I know you don't I know it don't know don't you know do you know do you know the Bishop of Norwich do you know what I'm saying do you know who I am foreknow formerly known as fuck if I know getting-to-know-you get to know