[f. KNOW v. + -ING2.] That knows.
1. That knows or has knowledge; conscious; mentally perceptive; cognitive.
1649. Jer. Taylor, Gt. Exemp., II. Sect. x. We believe a story which we love … in which cases our guides are not our knowing faculties, but our affections.
1655. H. Vaughan, Silex Scint., II. Quickness, iii. Life is a fix’d discerning light, A knowing joy.
1662. H. More, Philos. Writ., Pref. Gen. (1712), 16. This Spirit … being the natural Transcript of that which is knowing or perceptive.
1690. Locke, Hum. Und., IV. x. (1695), 355. There has been also a knowing Being from Eternity.
1865–75. M. Arnold, Ess. Crit., 363. They are our only source of knowlege on a matter which does not fall within the scope of our ordinary knowing faculties.
2. That has knowledge of truths or facts; understanding, intelligent, instructed, enlightened, well-informed.
c. 1375. Cursor M., 27153 (Fairf.). Prest agh be skilful soft & meke Knawande, riȝtwise, loueli in speke.
1483. Cath. Angl., 204/2. Knawynge, scius, sciolus.
1606. Shaks., Ant. & Cl., III. iii. 26. He’s very knowing, I do perceiu ’t.
1648. Boyle, Seraph. Love, xii. (1700), 61–2. Like rare Musick, which … the knowingst Artists still do highliest value.
1652. Bp. Hall, Invis. World, 1. § 5. So perfectly knowing are the angels that the very heathen philosophers have styled them by the name of Intelligences.
1737. J. Chamberlayne, St. Gt. Brit., II. II. iii. 359. Adults … are not catechised, when they are found to be sufficiently knowing.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 34. He is the most knowing of all living men. Ibid., III. 200. A man who is knowing about horses.
b. Skilled or versed in something.
1651. Cleveland, Poems, 35. To return knowing in the Spanish shrug.
1700. Dryden, Pref. Fables, Wks. (Globe), 497. Both of them were knowing in astronomy.
1866. Felton, Anc. & Mod. Gr., I. I. vii. 113. In such drugs was Helen knowing.
† c. Of an act, etc.: Showing knowledge or skill. Obs.
1793. Gouv. Morris, in Sparks, Life & Writ., Wks. 1832, II. 307. Dumouriez writes that the retreat was a knowing or skilful one.
1827. Scott, Jrnl., 5 Feb. There is a very knowing catalogue [of pictures] by Frank Grant himself.
3. Of persons, their actions, looks, etc.: Having or showing discernment or cunning; shrewd, cunning, acute, ‘wide-awake.’ (Often implying the air of possessing information that one does not or will not impart.)
Knowing one, much used c. 1750–1820 for a person professing to be well up in the secrets of the turf or other sporting matters.
1503. Act 19 Hen. VII., c. 6. Knowing Thieves and other Pickers that steal … Pewter and Brass.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 314, ¶ 2. He is the most knowing infant I have yet met with.
1749. Whitehall Evening Post, No. 537. The Odds being very high for Booby, the Knowing Ones were taken in.
1818. Sporting Mag., II. 22. The knowing ones were perfectly satisfied.
1832. Lytton, Eugene A., IV. ii. When I saw my master, who was thought the knowingest gentleman about court, taken in every day.
1833. Ht. Martineau, Berkeley the Banker, I. i. 13. ‘But he takes out a part by the way,’ interrupted Enoch, with a knowing look.
1852. R. S. Surtees, Sponge’s Sp. Tour, lxvi. 371. ‘I believe you,’ replied George, with a knowing jerk of his head.
4. Showing knowledge of ‘what is what’ in fashion, dress, and the like; stylish, smart. colloq. Obs. or merged in 3.
1796. Jane Austen, Sense & Sens., xix. Many young men … drove about town in very knowing gigs.
1800. Mrs. Hervey, Mourtray Fam., II. 135. Not a knowing man in the room!—and, as to the women,—look at their horrid figures!
1826. Disraeli, Viv. Grey, III. viii. Colonel Delmington is at Cheltenham, with the most knowing beard you can possibly conceive.
1831. Mrs. Sherwood, Henry Milner, III. iii. 43. A little foot-boy, dressed in a very knowing costume.
5. Cognizant, informed, aware. Const. of, in, to. ? Obs.
1659. Burton’s Diary (1828), IV. 480. Every man that lives under a law is supposed to be knowing of it.
1664. Sir C. Lyttelton, in Hatton Corr. (Camden), 37. To them who are commonly knowing enough in the affaires of that kind.
1752. J. Stewart, in Scots Mag. (1753), 294/2. It was a premeditated thing, to which I must have been knowing.
1790. in Dallas, Amer. Law Rep., I. 24. He was not knowing to any corrupt agreement.
1841. Catlin, N. Amer. Ind. (1844), II. liv. 187. I must be supposed to be knowing to and familiar with the whole circumstances.
