v. Obs. Forms: 1 ʓecnawan, 2 ʓecnowen, ikna(u)wen, 2–3 icnawe(n, 3 icnowe(n, 3–4 iknowe(n, 3–5 yknowe(n, 4 yknawe(n, yknaue(n, 5 iknow. Pa. t. 1 ʓecneow, 2–3 icnew, 2 ȝecnew, ȝicneow(e, 3–4 iknewe, ikneu. Pa. pple. 1 ʓecnawen, 2–3 icnawe(n, 2 ȝecnowe, 3 icnowe(n, iknowe, 4 yknawe, yknowe(n, ycnowen, 5 yknow. [OE. ʓecnáwan: see Y- 3 c and KNOW v.] To know (in various senses); to acknowledge.
971. Blickl. Hom., 71. He wæs … of cilda muþe ʓecnawen & weorþad.
a. 1000, etc. [see KNOW v. 1, 11, etc.].
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 49. Betre hit is þet mon ne iknawe noht þe wei to godalmihtin þe he hine icnawe and seodðe hine for-hoȝie.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 143. Ða biðohe heo on hire liflode and ȝe-cnew þat hie was lað gode.
c. 1205. Lay., 24805. Ȝif þu wult icnawen Þat he is king ouer þe.
a. 1240. Lofsong, in O. E. Hom., I. 205. Ich icnowe me gulti and creie þe leafdi merci.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), App. H. 122. Ich ne dar þat þe folc yhure þat ich yknowe þe.
c. 1320. Cast. Love, 36. For him þat con not i-knowen Nouþer French ne Latyn.
c. 1330. Arth. & Merl., 9049. Herui Riuel þis iknewe.
1340. Ayenb., 104. He is þe eldeste and þe meste yknawe and þe meste beloued. Ibid., 201. Zuo þet he ne may y-knawe his sseppere.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XI. 225. In her lyknesse owre lorde ofte hath ben y-knowe.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VII. 205. A lewed goost, þat kouþe not y-knowe þe cause … of verray martirdom.
c. 1394. P. Pl. Crede, 252. We ben clerkes y-cnowen cunnynge in scole.
1422. Yonge, trans. Secr. Secr., 123. Whath awaylyth Sotilte of vndyrstondynge and connynge, and how thay byth y-know.
c. 1430. Syr Gener. (Roxb.), 6737. If ye can me tech Hou I may I-know him.
b. To make known; = KNOW v. 13.
a. 1400. New Test. (Paues), Col. i. 27. To whom God wolde y-knowe þe richesse of þe blisse of þis sacrement.
