the vb.-stem in comb. forming adjs. and sbs. mostly nonce-words. Know-all, one who knows or professes to know everything; so know-it-all; know-all-about-it a., having the air of knowing all about something; know-everythingism, pretension to universal knowledge; know-little, a simpleton; know-not-what, an indescribable something; † know-thy-master, a name given to the sweating sickness; † know-worth a., worth knowing. Also KNOW-NOTHING.
1895. Westm. Gaz., 29 Nov., 3/1. Nothing must be hidden from this Imperial *Know-All.
1895. Outing (U.S.), XXVII. 65/1. I have no desire to send a young *know-it-all to the shop.
1887. Ruskin, in Spielmann, Life (1900), 193. Their girls have an energetic and business-like *‘know-all-about-it’ kind of prettiness.
1866. G. Stephens, Runic Mon., I. p. xvii. The ignorance and insolence of modern *know-every-thing-ism, that is of modern sciolism.
1651. Wittie, trans. Primrose’s Pop. Err., IV. xliii. 386. The same might be said of some *know-littles that practice Physick.
1877. Furnivall, Introd. Leopold Shaks., p. cxix. Wooden-heads and pert know-littles, we’ve had in plenty.
a. 1641. Suckling, Fragm. Aurea, Sonn., ii. I ask no red and white … Black eyes, or little *know-not-whats, in faces.
a. 1681. Allestree, Serm., 297 (L.). Exact features, perfect harmony of colours,… a graceful presence, cheerful air, and all those other know not whats.
1551. in Archæologia, XXXVIII. 107. The Swatt called new acquyntance, alles Stoupe knave and *know thy Master, began the xxiiijth of this monethe [June] 1551.
1598. E. Gilpin, Skial., Ep. xliv. Phrix hath a nose: who doubts what ech man knowes? But what hath Phrix *know-worth besides his nose?
