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ignorant - 5 dictionary results

ig⋅no⋅rant

[ig-ner-uhnt]
–adjective
1. lacking in knowledge or training; unlearned: an ignorant man.
2. lacking knowledge or information as to a particular subject or fact: ignorant of quantum physics.
3. uninformed; unaware.
4. due to or showing lack of knowledge or training: an ignorant statement.

Origin:
1325–75; ME ignora(u)nt < L ignōrant- (s. of ignōrāns), prp. of ignōrāre to ignore; see -ant


ig⋅no⋅rant⋅ly, adverb
ig⋅no⋅rant⋅ness, noun


1. uninstructed, untutored, untaught. Ignorant, illiterate, unlettered, uneducated mean lacking in knowledge or in training. Ignorant may mean knowing little or nothing, or it may mean uninformed about a particular subject: An ignorant person can be dangerous. I confess I'm ignorant of mathematics. Illiterate originally meant lacking a knowledge of literature or similar learning, but is most often applied now to one unable to read or write: necessary training for illiterate soldiers. Unlettered emphasizes the idea of being without knowledge of literature: unlettered though highly trained in science. Uneducated refers especially to lack of schooling or to lack of access to a body of knowledge equivalent to that learned in schools: uneducated but highly intelligent. 2. unenlightened.


1. literate. 2. learned.
ig·no·rant   (ĭg'nər-ənt)   
adj.  
  1. Lacking education or knowledge.
  2. Showing or arising from a lack of education or knowledge: an ignorant mistake.
  3. Unaware or uninformed.

[Middle English ignoraunt, from Old French ignorant, from Latin ignōrāns, ignōrant-, present participle of ignōrāre, to be ignorant, not to know; see gnō- in Indo-European roots.]
ig'no·rant·ly adv.

Ignorant

Ig"no*rant\, a. [F., fr. L. ignorans, -antis, p. pr. of ignorare to be ignorant. See Ignore.]

1. Destitute of knowledge; uninstructed or uninformed; untaught; unenlightened.

He that doth not know those things which are of use for him to know, is but an ignorant man, whatever he may know besides. --Tillotson.

2. Unacquainted with; unconscious or unaware; -- used with of.

Ignorant of guilt, I fear not shame. --Dryden.

3. Unknown; undiscovered. [Obs.]

Ignorant concealment. --Shak.

Alas, what ignorant sin have I committed? --Shak.

4. Resulting from ignorance; foolish; silly.

His shipping, Poor ignorant baubles! -- on our terrible seas, Like eggshells moved. --Shak.

Syn: Uninstructed; untaught; unenlightened; uninformed; unlearned; unlettered; illiterate. -- Ignorant, Illiterate. Ignorant denotes want of knowledge, either as to single subject or information in general; illiterate refers to an ignorance of letters, or of knowledge acquired by reading and study. In the Middle Ages, a great proportion of the higher classes were illiterate, and yet were far from being ignorant, especially in regard to war and other active pursuits.

In such business Action is eloquence, and the eyes of the ignorant More learned than the ears. --Shak.

In the first ages of Christianity, not only the learned and the wise, but the ignorant and illiterate, embraced torments and death. --Tillotson.

Ignorant

Ig"no*rant\, n. A person untaught or uninformed; one unlettered or unskilled; an ignoramous.

Did I for this take pains to teach Our zealous ignorants to preach? --Denham.
Language Translation for : ignorant
Spanish: ignorante,
German: ungebildet,
Japanese: 無知な

ignorant 
c.1374, from O.Fr. ignorant, from L. ignorantia, from ignorantem, prp. of ignorare from in- "not" + Old L. gnarus "aware, acquainted with," from Porot-L. suffixed form *gno-ro-, related to gnoscere "to know" (see know). Form influenced by ignotus "unknown." Cf. also see uncouth. Colloquial sense of "ill-mannered" first attested 1886. Ignorance is attested c.1225, from O.Fr. ignorance, from L. ignorantia.
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