ignore, v.
(ɪgˈnɔə(r))
[ad. F. ignorer, or L. ignōrāre not to know, to be ignorant of, mistake, misunderstand, disregard, ignore, f. i-2, in- not + *gnōr-āre, f. stem gnō- to know (cf. gnārus knowing).
In sense 1 the word occurs frequently in the works of Robert Boyle, with whom it has been erroneously supposed to have originated (cf. Aubrey's Lett. (1813) II. 159, and Bentley Phalaris Pref. 86). Todd, who points out that Johnson was wrong in holding this view, adds ‘but it is a word not worthy to be used’. This sense appears to have become obs. by 1700, though occasionally used later (cf. quot. 1860). Sense 3 appears in the 19th c., and was c 1850 still used with apology.]
† 1. trans. Not to know, to be ignorant of. Obs. or rare.
| 1611 Cotgr., Ignorer, to ignore, or be ignorant of, to want skill, not to know. c 1612 Sylvester Tropheis Henrie Gt. Wks. (1621) 1088 Who durst not speak, his mildnes did ignore. 1620 Shelton Quix. iv. ii. II. 21 Ignoring what competent Thanks she might return him..she cast herself down at his Feet. 1665 Boyle Occas. Refl. iv. xv. (1848) 262 There are others..desirous to be taught by me, the little that I know, and they ignore. 1674 R. Godfrey Inj. & Ab. Physic 173 Good in an Apothecaries Hand, who ignores their Dose or Composition. [1755–89 Johnson, Ignore,..this word Boyle endeavoured to introduce, but it has not been received. 1776 G. Campbell Philos. Rhet. (1801) I. 352 They appear as spots in his work. Such is the appearance which the terms opine, ignore, adroitness..have at present in the writings of some ingenious men.] 1860 R. F. Burton Centr. Afr. II. 206 The ‘principal men’ at the southern extremity ignored the extent northward. |
2. Said of a Grand Jury: To return (a bill) with the endorsement ‘not a true bill’, ‘not found’, or ‘no bill’: see ignoramus 1; to reject as unfounded or having insufficient evidence; to refuse acceptance of.
| 1830 De Quincey Bentley Wks. VII. 176 The word ignore, which he threw in the teeth of Mr. Boyle..is, in fact, Hibernian, which Bentley did not know; and in England is obsolete, except in the use of grand juries. (Note in Wks. 1857) It was written in the summer of 1830, at which time no vestige of a suspicion had arisen that very soon the word would be called back; or rather would be raised from a lifeless toleration in law-books to a popular and universal currency. It was a word much wanted..Yet there are pedants who..would even now (1857) ignore this indispensable word. 1838 Penny Cycl. XII. 460/1 When the bill is found not to be true, or, as it is frequently called, ‘ignored’, the accused is discharged..Sometimes, when the bill is ignored on account of some slip or error, the judge will direct the accused to be kept in custody. 1893 Law Times XCV. 28/1 The Lord Chief Justice suggested to the Grand Jury to ignore the bills, but they returned true bills. |
3. To refuse to take notice of; not to recognize; to disregard intentionally, leave out of account or consideration, shut ‘one's eyes to’.
| 1801 W. Taylor in Robberds Mem. I. 381 It is the worst symptom about your rise, that you ignore your former friends. 1832 Baroness Bunsen in Hare Life (1879) I. ix. 395 It was resolved to ignore this invitation. 1837 Carlyle Fr. Rev. III. i. i, Happily human brains have such a talent of taking up simply what they can carry, and ignoring all the rest. 1851 Ld. Shaftesbury in Hodder Life (1886) II. 358 They began by reviling me, they now ignore me, as the phrase goes. 1854 Earl of Carlisle Diary Turk. & Grk. Waters 189 Mr. Finlay says that the modern Greeks wholly ignore (I beg pardon for the use of the word) the whole period from Alexander the Great to Lord Palmerston. 1856 Froude Hist. Eng. (1858) I. ii. 161 He could not ignore an important feature of necessary evidence. |
Hence igˈnoring vbl. n. and ppl. a.; also igˈnorer, one who ignores.
| 1615 Sylvester St. Lewis 274 Th' hopefull Arrogance Sprung from ignoring of our Ignorance. 1841–4 Emerson Ess., Manners Wks. (Bohn) I. 213 Society loves..an ignoring eye, which does not see the annoyances, shifts, and inconveniences, that cloud the brow..of the sensitive. 1883 Athenæum 11 Aug. 167/1 The ignoring of this distinction. 1895 Columbus (Ohio) Chron. 12 Jan. 1/1 A sweet ignorer of the laws Of etiquette and rules of dress. |