KNOW, v.t. no. pret. knew; pp. known. [L. nosco, cognosco, Gr. although much varied in orthography. Nosco makes novi, which, with g or c prefixed, gnovi or cnovi, would coincide with know, knew. So L. cresco, crevi, coincides with grow, grew. The radical sense of knowing is generally to take, receive, or hold.]

1. To have clear and certain perception; not to be doubtful; sometimes with of. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. – John vii.
2. To be informed. Sir John must not know of it. – Shak.
3. To take cognizance of; to examine. Know of your youth … examine well your blood. – Shak.

1. To perceive with certainty; to understand clearly; to have a clear and certain perception of truth, fact, or any thing that actually exists. To know a thing precludes all doubt or uncertainty of its existence. We know what we see with our eyes, or perceive by other senses. We know that fire and water are different substances. We know that truth and falsehood express ideas incompatible with each other. We know that a circle is not a square. We do not know the truth of reports, nor can we always know what to believe.
2. To be informed of; to be taught. It is not unusual for us to say we know things from information, when we rely on the veracity of the informer.
3. To distinguish; as, to know one man from another. We know a fixed star from a planet by its twinkling.
4. To recognize by recollection, remembrance, representation or description. We do not always know a person after a long absence. We sometimes know a man by having seen his portrait, or having heard him described.
5. To be no stranger to; to be familiar. This man is well known to us.
6. In Scripture, to have sexual commerce with. – Gen. iv.
7. To approve. The Lord knoweth the way of the righteous. – Ps. i.
8. To learn. – Prov. i.
9. To acknowledge with due respect. – 1 Thess. v.
10. To choose; to favor or take an interest in. – Amos iii.
11. To commit; to have. He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin. – 2 Cor.
12. To have full assurance of; to have satisfactory evidence of any thing, though short of certainty.

1. Knee.
   
   
   [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. To perceive or apprehend clearly and certainly; to understand; to have full information of; as, to know one's duty.
   
   

   O, that a man might know
   The end of this day's business ere it come! Shak.

   There is a certainty in the proposition, and we know it. Dryden.

   Know how sublime a thing it is
   To suffer and be strong. Longfellow.

3. To have knowledge; to have a clear and certain perception; to possess wisdom, instruction, or information; -- often with of.
   
   

   Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. Is. i. 3.

   If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. John vii. 17.

   The peasant folklore of Europe still knows of willows that bleed and weep and speak when hewn. Tylor.

4. To be convinced of the truth of; to be fully assured of; as, to know things from information.
5. To be assured; to feel confident.
   
   

   To know of, to ask, to inquire. [Obs.] " Know of your youth, examine well your blood." Shak.

6. To be acquainted with; to be no stranger to; to be more or less familiar with the person, character, etc., of; to possess experience of; as, to know an author; to know the rules of an organization.
   
   

   He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin. 2 Cor. v. 21.

   Not to know me argues yourselves unknown. Milton.

7. To recognize; to distinguish; to discern the character of; as, to know a person's face or figure.
   
   

   Ye shall know them by their fruits. Matt. vil. 16.

   And their eyes were opened, and they knew him. Luke xxiv. 31.

   To know
   Faithful friend from flattering foe. Shak.

   At nearer view he thought he knew the dead. Flatman.

8. To have sexual commerce with.
   
   

   And Adam knew Eve his wife. Gen. iv. 1.

   * Know is often followed by an objective and an infinitive (with or without to) or a participle, a dependent sentence, etc.

   And I knew that thou hearest me always. John xi. 42.

   The monk he instantly knew to be the prior. Sir W. Scott.

   In other hands I have known money do good. Dickens.

   To know how, to understand the manner, way, or means; to have requisite information, intelligence, or sagacity. How is sometimes omitted. " If we fear to die, or know not to be patient." Jer. Taylor.