† Acknow, aknow

v. Obs. Forms: Inf. 1 oncnáwan; 3–5 aknowe(n, aknowe; 5–6 aknow. Pa. t. 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- pref. 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 wíʓe.

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.  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. cl.

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.  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^t 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, Boethius, 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.  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.  Shaks., Oth., III. iii. 319. Be not acknowne on’t: I haue vse for it.

1633.  Bp. Hall, Hard T., 140. The very place where he grew shall not be acknowne of him.