† aˈcknow, aknow, v. Obs.
Forms: inf. 1 oncnáwan; 3–5 aknowe(n, aknowe; 5–6 aknow. pa. tense 1 oncneaw; 2– aknew. pa. pple. 1 oncnáwen, onknaun, oknaun; 4 oknowen; 4–6 aknowen, aknowe; 5 aknow; 6 aknown, aknowne, acknowen; 6–7 acknown(e, acknown.
[f. on, in, on + cnáwan to know (by the senses), to recognize; the prefix afterwards reduced, as usual, to o-, a-, and at length corruptly written ac- in imitation of ac- before c- k- q- in words adopted from L. See a- prefix 2.]
Very rare after OE. period exc. in pa. pple.
1. To come to know, recognize.
| 933 Battle of Maldon (Sweet 134) Man mihte oncnáwan ðæt se cniht nolde wácian æt ðám w{iacu}ᵹe. c 1330 Arthour & Merlin 1081 But gif Y do hir ben a-knawe With wild hors do me to drawe. c 1430 Syr Generides 6739 Tho [Generides] wold be a-know, Ful simplie he answerd..It am I, hide it wol I noght. |
2. To admit or show one's knowledge, acknowledge, confess.
| c 1000 ælfric On O. Test. (Sweet 68) Ðæt he mihte oncnáwan his mánfullan dǽda. a 1500 Merline 901 (Percy Fol. MS. I. 450) To mee wold shee neuer aknow That any man for any meede Neighed her body. 1561 T. N[orton] Calvin's Instit. iv. 134 God will not be acknowen true in the receiuyng [of the bread] it selfe, but in the stedfastnesse of his owne goodnesse. |
3. In pa. pple. Acquainted, apprized, informed (of).
| 1330 R. Brunne Chron. 69 If he wild not so, he suld mak him oknowen, He suld wynne it..as for his owen. 1490 Caxton Eneydos xviii. 68 To departe out of my land sodaynly wythout to make me a knowen thereof. |
4. to be acknown: To be (self-)recognized or avowed in relation to anything; hence, to avow, confess, acknowledge (to a person). a. absol.
| c 1350 Will. Palerne 4391, I haue þe gretli a-gelt, to god ich am a-knowe. c 1430 Lydg. in Mass Bk. 390 (1879) I am aknowe, and wot ryght well I speke pleynly as I fel. c 1440 Prom. Parv. 280 Knowlechyn or ben a-knowe be constreynynge, Fateor. Knowlechyn or ben a-knowe wylfully, Confiteor. 1460 J. Capgrave Chron. 266 The Erl of Warwick..was a knowe, as thei seid. For which confession the King gave him lif, and exiled him. |
b. with subord. clause.
| c 1350 Will. Palerne 4788 Þat we ar worþi to þe deth wel we be a-knowe. c 1440 Gesta Rom. 201 The first knyght was aknow that he slew the man. 1447 O. Bokenham Lyvys of Seyntys Introd. 14 Be not aknowe whom it comyth fro. c 1450 Pecock Repr. 149 Neither he woll be Aknowe that the ymage is his God. 1534 More Treat. on the Passion Wks. 1557, 1273/2 They..will not be aknowen that it is his. 1535 Coverdale 2 Macc. vi. 6 There durst no man be a knowne that he was a Jewe. 1535–75 Abp. Parker Corr. 441 To put you in remembrance not to be acknown to him that you have it from me. 1548 Hall Chron. (1809) 374 Menne must sometym for the maner sake not bee aknowen what they knowe. 1583 Golding Calvin, Deut. xxxiv. 202 In deede men will not be acknowen y{supt} it is so. 1639 H. Ainsworth Annot. on Pentat. Pref. 4 They will not bee a knowne that they pray or doe worship unto them. |
c. with simple obj.
| c 1374 Chaucer Boeth. 17 Þat I confesse and am a-knowe. 1414 Brampton 7 Penit. Ps. lvii. 22, I am aknowe my synfull lyif. c 1430 How the Good Wif, etc. 159 in Hazl. E.P.P. 191 Tylle thei crye mercy, and be here gylte aknowe. c 1440 Gesta Rom. 395 She wolde haue more sharpe penaunce, and was a-knowe all here synnes to a wicked preste. |
d. with of.
| c 1430 How the Good Wijf, etc. 191 in Babees Bk. 46 Til þei crie mercy, & be of her gilt aknowe. c 1440 Gesta Rom. 201 It is better forto be aknow of my synne here openly, and take my penaunce. 1496 Dives & Pauper (W. de Worde) vi. xxiv. 272/2 He wolde not be aknowen of his synne, but put his synne on god, and excused hym by Eue. 1526 Tindale Rom. i. 28 As it semed not good vnto them to be aknowen of God, even so God deliveryd them vppe vnto a leawde mynd. 1560 J. Daus Sleidane's Comm. 390 b, Touching religion & doctrin, they will be acknowne of none error. 1589 Puttenham Eng. Poesie (1811) iii. xxii. 212 So would I not haue a translatour be ashamed to be acknowen of his translation. 1604 Shakes. Oth. iii. iii. 319 Be not acknowne on't: I haue vse for it. 1633 Bp. Hall Hard Texts 140 The very place where he grew shall not be acknowne of him. |