ppl. a.
1. Known to many, widely or generally known.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, I. 11. It is weyle knawyne on mony diuers syde, How thai haff wrocht in to thair mychty pryde.
1479–80. Paston Lett., III. 269. He is well knowe in London.
1568. Turner, Herbal, III. 8. Medewurte is an herbe well knowen unto all men.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, I. vii. § 2. He by enquirie gotte to the wel-knowne house of Kalander.
1613. Chapman, Rev. Bussy D’Ambois, III. i. Ile not wrong My well knowne Brother for Anonymos.
1611. Bp. Mountagu, Diatribæ, 19. The well-knowne and avowable practice of the Ancients.
1697. Dryden, Æneis, III. 141. The fruitful Isle of Crete, well known to Fame.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 127, ¶ 3. It is well known we have not had a more moderate Summer these many Years.
1780. Mirror, No. 87. She instanced the well-known lines of Shakespeare.
1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., xxxiii. The well-known leader of the Porteous mob.
1837. Penny Cycl., IX. 163/1. Dry Rot, a well-known disease affecting timber.
1850. McCosh, Div. Govt., II. i. (1874), 140. It is well known that art has in general preceded science.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 46. His father being a very well-known man.
1907. J. A. Hodges, Elem. Photogr. (ed. 6), 95. Any well-known brand [of Bromide paper].
2. Intimately or thoroughly known.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., III. v. 17. A narrow foord, to them well knowne. Ibid. (1596), V. viii. 40. The dreadfull sight did them so sore affray, That their well knowen courses they forwent.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 391. The Stallion snuffs the well-known Scent afar.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 4, ¶ 2. There are … many to whom my Person is as well known as that of their nearest Relations.
1726. Pope, Odyss., XVI. 9. Some well-known friend (Eumæus) bends this way.
1796. Mme. D’Arblay, Camilla, X. xii. A well-known voice reached her ears.
1805. Scott, Last Minstrel, IV. xxv. The boy … Implor’d for aid each well-known face.
1867. Morris, Jason, II. 15. So lightly through the well-known woods he passed.
absol. 1890. Hardwicke’s Sci.-Gossip, XXVI. 158/2. It is always best to begin with the well-known, and proceed to the less known or altogether unknown.
