verb
simple past tense of know.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
verb (used with object)
1.
to perceive or understand as fact or truth; to apprehend clearly and with certainty: I know the situation fully.
2.
to have established or fixed in the mind or memory: to know a poem by heart; Do you know the way to the park from here?
3.
to be cognizant or aware of: I know it.
4.
be acquainted with (a thing, place, person, etc.), as by sight, experience, or report: to know the mayor.
5.
to understand from experience or attainment (usually followed by how before an infinitive): to know how to make gingerbread.
verb (used without object)
8.
to have knowledge or clear and certain perception, as of fact or truth.
9.
to be cognizant or aware, as of some fact, circumstance, or occurrence; have information, as about something.
noun
Idioms 10.
the fact or state of knowing; knowledge.
11.
in the know, possessing inside, secret, or special information.
12.
know the ropes, Informal. to understand or be familiar with the particulars of a subject or business: He knew the ropes better than anyone else in politics.
Origin:
before 900; Middle English knowen, knawen, Old English gecnāwan; cognate with Old High German -cnāhan, Old Norse knā to know how, be able to; akin to Latin (g)nōvī, Greek gignṓskein. See gnostic, can1
before 900; Middle English knowen, knawen, Old English gecnāwan; cognate with Old High German -cnāhan, Old Norse knā to know how, be able to; akin to Latin (g)nōvī, Greek gignṓskein. See gnostic, can1
Related forms
know·er, noun
Synonyms
1. Know, comprehend, understand imply being aware of meanings. To know is to be aware of something as a fact or truth: He knows the basic facts of the subject. I know that he agrees with me. To comprehend is to know something thoroughly and to perceive its relationships to certain other ideas, facts, etc. To understand is to be fully aware not only of the meaning of something but also of its implications: I could comprehend all he said, but did not understand that he was joking.
1. Know, comprehend, understand imply being aware of meanings. To know is to be aware of something as a fact or truth: He knows the basic facts of the subject. I know that he agrees with me. To comprehend is to know something thoroughly and to perceive its relationships to certain other ideas, facts, etc. To understand is to be fully aware not only of the meaning of something but also of its implications: I could comprehend all he said, but did not understand that he was joking.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To knew
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Knew
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is fletcherise. Does it mean:
| to spend time idly; loaf. |
| to chew (food) slowly and thoroughly. |
Collins
know (nəʊ) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb , knows, knowing, knew, known | |
| 1. | (also intr; may take a clause as object) to be or feel certain of the truth or accuracy of (a fact, etc) |
| 2. | to be acquainted or familiar with: she's known him five years |
| 3. | to have a familiarity or grasp of, as through study or experience: he knows French |
| 4. | (also intr; may take a clause as object) to understand, be aware of, or perceive (facts, etc): he knows the answer now |
| 5. | ( |
| 6. | to experience, esp deeply: to know poverty |
| 7. | to be intelligent, informed, or sensible enough (to do something): she knew not to go home yet |
| 8. | (may take a clause as object) to be able to distinguish or discriminate |
| 9. | archaic to have sexual intercourse with |
| 10. | I know what I have an idea |
| 11. | know what's what to know how one thing or things in general work |
| 12. | informal you know a parenthetical filler phrase used to make a pause in speaking or add slight emphasis to a statement |
| 13. | you never know things are uncertain |
| —n | |
| 14. | informal in the know aware or informed |
| [Old English gecnāwan; related to Old Norse knā I can, Latin noscere to come to know] | |
| 'knowable | |
| —adj | |
| 'knower | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
know
O.E. cnawan (class VII strong verb; past tense cneow, pp. cnawen), from P.Gmc. *knoeanan (cf. O.H.G. bi-chnaan, ir-chnaan "to know"), from PIE base *gno- "to know" (cf. O.Pers. xnasatiy "he shall know;" O.C.S. znati, Rus. znat "to know;" L. gnoscere; Gk. *gno-, as in gignoskein; Skt. jna- "know"). Once
widespread in Gmc., this form is now retained only in Eng., where however it has widespread application, covering meanings that require two or more verbs in other languages (e.g. Ger. wissen, kennen, erkennen and in part können; Fr. connaître, savoir; L. novisse, cognoscire, scire; O.C.S. znaja, vemi). The Anglo-Saxons used two distinct words for this, witan (see wit) and cnawan. Meaning "to have sexual intercourse with" is attested from c.1200, from the O.T. To not know one's ass from one's elbow is from 1930. To know better "to have learned from experience" is from 1704. You know as a parenthetical filler is from 1712, but it has roots in 14c. M.E. Know-how "technical expertise" first recorded 1838 in Amer.Eng. Know-nothing "ignoramus" is from 1827; as a U.S. nativist political party, active 1853-56, the name refers to the secret society at the core of the party, about which members were instructed to answer, if asked about it, that they "know nothing." The party merged into the Republican Party.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
But the busy professional also knew he needed easy-care plants.
His aides say that he knew nothing about the scheme before a local planning committee considered it.
He had been looking for someone who knew the university and could act as a confidante and a messenger.
He only knew that she represented a ticket to freedom.
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