vbl. sb. Obs. [f. KNOWLEDGE v. + -ING1.]
1. The action of the vb. KNOWLEDGE; acknowledgement, confession; formal acknowledgement; also (rendering L. confessio of Vulg.), Thanksgiving, praise.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 1388. Iþe cnawlechinge of his kinewurðe nome.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 10778. Knowlechyng til hym þey bed.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 327. Confession generaly is knowlechynge made wiþ wille. Ibid. (1382), Ps. cxlviii. 14. The knouleching of hym vpon heuene and erthe.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. ccxii. 259. The kynges of Englande … shall … holde all the forenamed countreys … without any knowledgynge of any souerayntie, obeysaunce … or subiection … to the crowne of Fraunce.
1539. Tonstall, Serm. Palm Sund. (1823), 48. Peter,… the fyrst that with his mouthe vttered that confessyon and knowlegynge by which all Christen men must be saued.
1594. West, 2nd Pt. Symbol., § 59. At the knowledging of every fine, if the Justice … do not know the cognisors, it is requisite that some other credible person … be present.
2. The action, condition or faculty of knowing; = KNOWLEDGE sb.; understanding, cognition, cognizance, notice, recognition, acquaintance, etc.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 92. God wule … ȝiuen ou liht … him uorto iseonne & icnowen; & þuruh þe cnoulechunge, ouer alle þing him luuien.
c. 1330. Spec. Gy Warw., 725. What mannes soule … Þurw dedli sinne ifiled is, His knowelaching is al gon.
a. 1425. Cursor M., 15931 (Trin.). Petur seide knowlechyng of him had I neuer none.
c. 1430. Syr Gener. (Roxb.), 6896. On his finger she knew the ring, Of him had shee noo knowleching.
c. 1450. Lonelich, Grail, xliii. 155. Was neuere Child In wommannes body with-Owten mannes knowlechinge.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, XIX. i. They bare … no maner of knoulechynge of their owne armes but playne whyte sheldes. Ibid., XX. xiv. Ye shall … lete hym haue knowlechynge that … I my self shall brynge my lady Quene Gueneuer vnto hym.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, lxv. 18. Ȝe clarkis … Fullest of science and of knawlegeing.
1509. Hawes, Conv. Swearers, 3. How sholde we nowe haue ony knowledgynge Of thynges past but by theyr endytynge.
1560. Rolland, Crt. Venus, IV. 154. Traistant richt weill be perfite knawleging, Ȝe will not thoill.
3. Meaning, signification. rare–1.
1387–8. T. Usk, Test. Love, Prol. (Skeat), l. 29. Many termes ther ben in Englyshe [of] whiche vnneth we Englishe men connen declare the knowleginge.
