▪ I. † nown(e, n'own
obs. variants of own a., through wrong division of myn own, thyn own; afterwards used also with your, her, etc.
See also own a. 1 ε, and cf. nain a.
| c 1400 Song Roland 639 Wit it thy nown werk. 1482 Monk of Evesham (Arb.) 44 Helpe me that for myn nowne propyr synnys am yn desperacyon. a 1553 Udall Royster D. i. iii, Well sowed,..And een as well knitte, my nowne Annot Alyface. 1622 Breton Strange News Wks. (Grosart) II. 7/2 Fathers darling and mothers nowne childe. 1681 T. Flatman Heraclitus Ridens No. 45 (1713) II. 37 Upon further Examination, I found 'em to be the Ape's nown Poetry. 1762 Gentl. Mag. 288 Bussed with a smack her nown good man. 1790 R. Tyler Contrast i. i, Maria, like a good girl, to keep herself constant to her nown true-love, avoided company. |
b. Used without preceding pron. or genitive.
| 1603 Breton Packet Mad Lett. ii. lx, Nowne Loue, and kinde soule, I thanke thee. 1673 Dryden Marr. à la Mode iii. ii, And did I wrong n'own Rhodophil, with a false suspicion? 1691 Shadwell Scowerers i. i, Some wise lecture from nown daddy. |
▪ II. nown(e
obs. ff. noun.