From Middle English _knowen_, from Old English _cnāwan_ (“to know, perceive, recognise”), from Proto-Germanic _*knēaną_ (“to know”), from Proto-Indo-European _*ǵneh₃-_ (“to know”). Cognate with Scots _knaw_ (“to know, recognise”), Icelandic _kná_ (“to know, know how to, be able”).

* (UK) IPA(key): /nəʊ/ * (US) IPA(key): /noʊ/ * Rhymes: -əʊ * Homophones: no, noh

KNOW (_third-person singular simple present_ KNOWS, _present participle_ KNOWING, _simple past_ KNEW, _past participle_ KNOWN) * (transitive) To perceive the truth or factuality of; to be certain of or that. _I KNOW that I’m right and you’re wrong.  He KNEW something terrible was going to happen._ * (transitive) 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._ * (transitive) To be acquainted or familiar with; to have encountered. _I KNOW your mother, but I’ve never met your father._ * (transitive) To experience. _Their relationship KNEW ups and downs._ * 1991, Irvin Haas, _Historic Homes of the American Presidents_, p.155: The Truman family KNEW good times and bad, […]. * (transitive) 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._ * _Bible_, _Matthew 7.16_: Ye shall KNOW them by their fruits. * 1920, Mary Roberts Rinehart, Avery Hopwood, _The Bat_, chapterI: The Bat—they called him the Bat. […]. He'd never been in stir, the bulls had never mugged him, he didn't run with a mob, he played a lone hand, and fenced his stuff so that even the fence couldn't swear he KNEW his face. * 1980, _Armored and mechanized brigade operations_, p.3−29: Flares do not KNOW friend from foe and so illuminate both. Changes in wind direction can result in flare exposure of the attacker while defenders hide in the shadows. * (transitive) To recognize as the same (as someone or something previously encountered) after an absence or change. * _c._ 1645–1688, Thomas Flatman, _Translation of Part of Petronius Arbiter's Satyricon_ At nearer view he thought he KNEW the dead, / And call'd the wretched man to mind. * 1818, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, _Frankenstein_: Ernest also is so much improved, that you would hardly KNOW him: […]. * (followed by HOW and a verb) To understand from experience or study. _Let me do it. I KNOW how it works.  She knows HOW to swim._ * (transitive) To understand (a subject). _She KNOWS chemistry better than anybody else.  KNOW your enemy and KNOW yourself._ * (transitive, archaic, biblical) To have sexual relations with. * 1611, _Bible_ (Authorized, or King James, Version)[1], Genesis 4.1: And Adam KNEW Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. * (intransitive) 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._ * 1908, W. B. M. Ferguson, _Zollenstein_, chapterIV: “My Continental prominence is improving,” I commented dryly. ¶ Von Lindowe cut at a furze bush with his silver-mounted rattan. ¶ “Quite so,” he said as dryly, his hand at his mustache. “I may say if your intentions were KNOWN your life would not be worth a curse.” * (intransitive) To be or become aware or cognizant. _Did you know Michelle and Jack were getting divorced? ― Yes, I KNEW._ * (intransitive, obsolete) To be acquainted (with another person). * 1607, William Shakespeare, _Antony and Cleopatra_, act 2, scene 6: You and I have KNOWN, sir. QUOTATIONS * 1599, William Shakespeare, _Julius Caesar_, scene 1: O, that a man might KNOW / The end of this day's business ere it come! / But it sufficeth that the day will end, / And then the end is KNOWN. * 1839, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, _The Light of Stars_, _Voices of the Night_: O fear not in a world like this, / And thou shalt KNOW erelong, / KNOW ho

KNOW (_plural_ KNOWS) * Knowledge; the state of knowing. * 1623, William Shakespeare, _Hamlet_ (1623 first folio edition), act 5, scene 2: That on the view and know of these Contents, […] He should the bearers put to […] death, DERIVED TERMS * in the know

* know in _The Century Dictionary_, The Century Co., New York, 1911 * know in _Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary_, G. & C. Merriam, 1913

* wonk

From Proto-Celtic _*knuwjā-_ (compare Welsh _cnau_ (“nuts”), Old Breton _cnou_ and Modern Breton _kraoñ_ (“nuts”)).

* IPA(key): [knoʊ]

KNOW pl (_singulative_ KNOWEN _or_ KNOFEN) * nuts DERIVED TERMS * know dor * know Frynk