know-
the vb.-stem in comb. forming adjs. and ns. mostly nonce-words. know-all, one who knows or professes to know everything; also attrib. or as adj., full of knowledge; esp., deaf to advice or instruction; so know-it-all; know-all-about-it a., having the air of knowing all about something; know-every-thingism, pretension to universal knowledge; know-little, a simpleton; know-not-what, an indescribable something; † know-thy-master, a name given to the sweating sickness; † know-worth a., worth knowing. Also know-nothing.
| 1881 Tennyson Tiresias (1885) 49 We have knelt in your *know-all chapel. 1895 Westm. Gaz. 29 Nov. 3/1 Nothing must be hidden from this Imperial Know-All. 1906 Daily Chron. 30 Aug. 3/4 He..maintains in his know-all manner that the two counties of Wigtown and Kirkcudbright..were integral parts always of the kingdom of Scotland. 1923 D. H. Lawrence Birds, Beasts & Flowers 185 Fool, in spite of your pretty ways, and quaint, know-all, wrinkled old aunty's face. |
| 1895 Outing (U.S.) XXVII. 65/1, I have no desire to send a young *know-it-all to the shop. 1935 Wodehouse Blandings Castle ix. 225 These know-it-all directors make me tired. 1956 H. Gold Man who was not with It (1965) ii. 16 He looked over the apprehensive afternoon crowd with its know-it-all faces. 1959 Encounter XIII. ii. 57 All big smart know-it-all Marxists. 1974 Times 23 Jan. 1/8 We didn't realize, until it was too late, how our know-it-all attitude was undermining the self-assurance of parents. |
| 1887 Ruskin in Spielmann Life (1900) 193 Their girls have an energetic and business-like ‘*know-all-about-it’ kind of prettiness. |
| 1868 G. Stephens Runic Mon. I. p. xvii, The ignorance and insolence of modern *know-every-thingism, that is of modern sciolism. |
| 1651 Wittie tr. Primrose's Pop. Err. iv. xliii. 386 The same might be said of some *know-littles that practice Physick. 1877 Furnivall Introd. Leopold Shaks. p. cxix, Wooden-heads and pert know-littles, we've had in plenty. |
| a 1641 Suckling Fragm. Aurea, Sonn. ii, I ask no red and white..Black eyes, or little *know-not-whats, in faces. a 1681 R. Allestree Serm. 297 (L.) Exact features, perfect harmony of colours,..a graceful presence, cheerful air, and all those other know not whats. |
| 1551 in Archæologia XXXVIII. 107 The Swatt called new acquyntance, alles Stoupe knave and *know thy Master, began the xxiiij{supt}{suph} of this monethe [June] 1551. |
| 1598 E. Guilpin Skial. Ep. xliv, Phrix hath a nose: who doubts what ech man knowes? But what hath Phrix *know-worth besides his nose? |