Obs. In 3 cnaw. [Early ME. cnaw, prob. repr. an OE. *ʓecnáw, f. ʓe)cnáwan to KNOW: cf. ʓefeoht, ʓeheald, ʓesc(e)ád, ʓeweald, ʓewinn, etc.; also OE. ʓecnǽwe adj. ‘conscious of, acknowledging.’] Acknowledgement, confession; in early ME. phr. (soð) cnawes beon, to acknowledge truthfully, to confess. Obs.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 1078. Beo nu soð cnawes, ȝef ich riht segge. Ibid., 2041. Beo nu ken & cnawes, of þat þat tu isehen hauest.
a. 1225. Juliana, 54. Sei me ant beo soð cnawes hwer weren þe itaht þine wichecreftes.
c. 1230. Hali Meid., 25. Beo nu soð cnawes for to kele þi lust wið fulde of þi licome … for gode hit is wlateful þing.
