Know, v. i. 1. To
have knowledge; to have a clear and certain perception; to possess
wisdom, instruction, or information; -- often with
of.
Israel doth not know, my people doth not
consider.
Is. i. 3.
If any man will do his will, he shall know of
the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of
myself.
John vii. 17.
The peasant folklore of Europe still knows of
willows that bleed and weep and speak when hewn.
Tylor.
2. To be assured; to feel
confident.
To know of, to ask, to inquire. [Obs.]
" Know of your youth, examine well your blood."
Shak.
Know (nō), v. t.
[imp. Knew (nū); p.
p. Known (nōn); p. pr. & vb.
n. Knowing.] [OE. knowen, knawen, AS.
cnäwan; akin to OHG. chnäan (in comp.), Icel.
knä to be able, Russ. znate to know, L.
gnoscere, noscere, Gr. gighw`skein, Skr.
jnā; fr. the root of E. can, v.
i., ken. √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.
O, that a man might know
The end of this day's business ere it come!
Shak.
There is a certainty in the proposition, and we
know it.
Dryden.
Know how sublime a thing it is
To suffer and be strong.
Longfellow.
2. To be convinced of the truth of; to be
fully assured of; as, to know things from
information.
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.
He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no
sin.
2 Cor. v. 21.
Not to know me argues yourselves
unknown.
Milton.
4. To recognize; to distinguish; to discern
the character of; as, to know a person's face or
figure.
Ye shall know them by their
fruits.
Matt. vil. 16.
And their eyes were opened, and they knew
him.
Luke xxiv. 31.
To know
Faithful friend from flattering foe.
Shak.
At nearer view he thought he knew the
dead.
Flatman.
5. To have sexual commerce with.
And Adam knew Eve his wife.
Gen. iv. 1.
☞ Know is often followed by an objective and an
infinitive (with or without to) or a participle, a dependent
sentence, etc.
And I knew that thou hearest me
always.
John xi. 42.
The monk he instantly knew to be the
prior.
Sir W. Scott.
In other hands I have known money do
good.
Dickens.
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.
Know (nō), n. Knee.
[Obs.] Chaucer.