adv. prop. phr. Forms: 1–3 on cneowe, 3 a cneowe, a cnouwe, 4 a knowe, a cneo, akneo, a cne. Also in pl. 3 a cneon, a kneon, 4 aknen; north. 3 o cnewwess, 4 a knewes. [f. ON prep. + KNEE. Obs. a. 1500, but used in sing. by Southey. In plural we now say on my (his, etc.) knees.] On one’s knee or knees.
c. 1200. St. Marherete, lxvii. Malchus herde thes wordes, he sette him acne.
c. 1205. Lay., 29573. He lai on cneowe ibede. Ibid., 14305. Reowen sæt a cneowe [1250 a cnouwe].
c. 1300. Beket, 1696. And to his fet ful akneo.
c. 1300. K. Alis., 3540. And made mony knyght aknawe, On medewe.
1805. Southey, Madoc in Azt., vii. Wks. V. 250. Aknee they fell before the Prince.
† b. with pl. Obs.
c. 1200. Ormin, 6467. Fellenn dun o cnewwess.
c. 1230. Ancr. R., 44. Ualleð akneon to ðer eorðe. Ibid., 16. Efter þis ualleð acneon to ower crucifix.
a. 1300. K. Horn, 340 (Halliw.). Tho Athelbius astounde Fel aknen [334 in ed. 1866, anon] to grounde.
c. 1330. Arth. & Merl., 2353. To forn him aknewes sche fel.
