[UN-1 14.]
1. trans. Not to know (something); to fail to recognize or perceive. Also absol.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. I. 160. Þou art maister in Israel, and ȝit þou unknowist þes þingis. Ibid. (1382), 1 Cor. xiv. 38. If ony man vnknowith, he schal be vnknowen.
c. 1400. Apol. Loll., 61. Þoo þat vnknawen þe riȝtwisnes of God.
c. 1532. Du Wes, Introd. Fr., in Palsgr., 942. To unknowe, descognoistre.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., 41. I hardly beleeve, be hath from elder times unknowne the verticity of the loadstone.
1709. Mrs. Manley, Secret Mem. (1720), III. 252. [He] is obliged to turn his Eyes, as if to unknow, or at least must take no notice of it here.
1871. Swinburne, Hertha, 19. Love or unlove me, Unknow me or know.
† 2. To be ignorant that, etc. Also intr. with of.
1382. Wyclif, 1 Cor. x. 1. I nyle ȝou for to vnknowe, for [1388 that] alle oure fadris weren vndir cloude. [Also 1 Kings xxii. 3, Rom. i. 13.]
a. 1400. Pauline Ep. (Powell), 2 Cor. i. 8. We wil not ȝou to vnknowe, breþere, of oure tribulacyoun.
1709. Mrs. Manley, Secret Mem. (1720), II. 58. Sure these seem to unknow that there is a certain Portion of Misery … allotted to all Men.
