beknow

English

Etymology

From Middle English beknowen, biknowen, from Old English becnāwan (“to know, know about”), equivalent to be- +‎ know. Cognate with Old High German bichnāan (“to recognise, see”).

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -əʊ

Verb

beknow (third-person singular simple present beknows, present participle beknowing, simple past beknew, past participle beknown)

1. (transitive) To know about; have knowledge of; recognise; understand; be aware (of); be knowledgeable about.
   • 1856, Homer, Francis William Newman, The Iliad of Homer:

     At length Alkimedon, his friend and comrade, right beknew it; [...]

   • 1859, United States Congress, Congressional edition - Page 354:

     Do not think my reverend father that I am beknowing to all the affairs of the savages, there is a great deal wanting: they come to us about the affairs of their conscience, but as to the rest they consult us but little.

   • 1888, The Argosy, volume 46:

     [...] when I went bolt into his dressing-room, not beknowing he was in it — why it is not likely, sir, that he comes again.

   • 1922, Walter De la Mare, Down-adown-derry: a book of fairy poems:

     Know I as soon as dark's dreams begin Snared is my heart in a nightmare's gin; Never from terror I out may win; So dawn and dusk I pine, peak, thin, Scarcely beknowing t'other from which—My great grandam—She was a Witch.

2. (transitive) To acknowledge; own; confess.
   • c. 1527–1542, Thomas Wyatt, “Penitential Psalms”, in Egerton MS 2711‎, page 93r:

     For vnto the no nombre can be layd
     for to preſcrybe remiſſions off offence
     In hertes retornd, as thow thy ſellff haſt ſayd.
     And I, beknow my Fawt my neclegence [...]

Derived terms

• beknowing
• beknown