from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Know \Know\ (n[=o]), v. t. [imp. {Knew} (n[=u]); p. p. {Known}
(n[=o]n); p. pr. & vb. n. {Knowing}.] [OE. knowen, knawen,
AS. cn[aum]wan; akin to OHG. chn[aum]an (in comp.), Icel.
kn[aum] to be able, Russ. znate to know, L. gnoscere,
noscere, Gr. gighw`skein, Skr. jn[=a]; fr. the root of E.
can, v. i., ken. [root]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.
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O, that a man might know
The end of this day's business ere it come! --Shak.
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There is a certainty in the proposition, and we know
it. --Dryden.
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Know how sublime a thing it is
To suffer and be strong. --Longfellow.
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2. To be convinced of the truth of; to be fully assured of;
as, to know things from information.
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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.
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He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin.
--2 Cor. v.
21.
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Not to know me argues yourselves unknown. --Milton.
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4. To recognize; to distinguish; to discern the character of;
as, to know a person's face or figure.
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Ye shall know them by their fruits. --Matt. vil.
16.
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And their eyes were opened, and they knew him.
--Luke xxiv.
31.
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To know
Faithful friend from flattering foe. --Shak.
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At nearer view he thought he knew the dead.
--Flatman.
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5. To have sexual intercourse with.
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And Adam knew Eve his wife. --Gen. iv. 1.
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Note: Know is often followed by an objective and an
infinitive (with or without to) or a participle, a
dependent sentence, etc.
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And I knew that thou hearest me always. --John
xi. 42.
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The monk he instantly knew to be the prior. --Sir
W. Scott.
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In other hands I have known money do good.
--Dickens.
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{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." --Jer. Taylor.
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