Etymology : Middle English knowlege, from knowlechen to acknowledge, irregular from knowen
Pronunciation : 'nä-lij
Function : noun
Date : 14th century
1. familiarity, understanding; something that is known; wisdom; learning, education; awareness, cognizance. knowledge\knowl"edge\ , n. [oe. knowlage, knowlege, knowleche, knawleche. the last part is the icel. suffix -leikr, forming abstract nouns, orig. the same as icel. leikr game, play, sport, akin to as. lāc, goth. laiks dance. see:
know, and cf. lake, v. i., lark a frolic.].
2. the act or state of knowing; clear perception of fact, truth, or duty; certain apprehension; familiar cognizance; cognition. knowledge, which is the highest degree of the speculative faculties, consists in the perception of the truth of affirmative or negative propositions.
3. that which is or may be known; the object of an act of knowing; a cognition; -- chiefly used in the plural. there is a great difference in the delivery of the mathematics, which are the most abstracted of knowledges. knowledges is a term in frequent use by bacon, and, though now obsolete, should be revived, as without it we are compelled to borrow "cognitions" to express its import. w. hamilton. to use a word of bacon's, now unfortunately obsolete, we must determine the relative value of knowledges. spencer.
4. that which is gained and preserved by knowing; instruction; acquaintance; enlightenment; learning; scholarship; erudition. knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. viii.
5. ignorance is the curse of god; - knowledge, the wing wherewith we fly to heaven.
6. that familiarity which is gained by actual experience; practical skill; as, a knowledge of life. shipmen that had knowledge of the sea.
7. 5. scope of information; cognizance; notice; as, it has not come to my knowledge. why have i found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldst take knowledge of me? --ruth ii.
8. 6. sexual intercourse; -- usually preceded by carnal; as, carnal knowledge.
9. The act or state of knowing; clear perception of fact, truth, or duty; certain apprehension; familiar cognizance; cognition.
10. That which is or may be known; the object of an act of knowing; a cognition; chiefly used in the plural.
11. That which is gained and preserved by knowing; instruction; acquaintance; enlightenment; learning; scholarship; erudition.
12. That familiarity which is gained by actual experience; practical skill; as, a knowledge of life.
13. Scope of information; cognizance; notice; as, it has not come to my knowledge.
14. Sexual intercourse; usually preceded by carnal; as, carnal knowledge.
15. To acknowledge.
16. 1. Knowledge is information and understanding about a subject which a person has, or which all people have. She told Parliament she had no knowledge of the affair. the quest for scientific knowledge.
17. If you say that something is true to your knowledge or to the best of your knowledge, you mean that you believe it to be true but it is possible that you do not know all the facts. Alec never carried a gun to my knowledge.
18. If you do something safe in the knowledge that something else is the case, you do the first thing confidently because you are sure of the second thing. You can let your kids play here, safe in the knowledge that they won't get sunburn.