Know"ing*ness, n. The state or quality of being knowing or intelligent;
shrewdness; skillfulness.
Knowl"eche (?), n. & v. [Obs.] See Knowledge.
We consider and knowleche that we have offended.
Chaucer.
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Knowl"ech*ing (?), n. Knowledge. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Knowl"edge (?), n. [OE. knowlage, knowlege, knowleche, knawleche. The
last part is the Icel. suffix -leikr, forming abstract nouns, orig. the
same as Icel. leikr game, play, sport, akin to AS. lc, Goth. laiks
dance. See Know, and cf. Lake, v. i., Lark a frolic.]
1. The act or state of knowing; clear perception of fact, truth, or
duty; certain apprehension; familiar cognizance; cognition.
Knowledge, which is the highest degree of the speculative
faculties, consists in the perception of the truth of affirmative
or negative propositions.
Locke.
2. That which is or may be known; the object of an act of knowing; a
cognition; -- chiefly used in the plural.
There is a great difference in the delivery of the mathematics,
which are the most abstracted of knowledges.
Bacon.
Knowledges is a term in frequent use by Bacon, and, though now
obsolete, should be revived, as without it we are compelled to
borrow "cognitions" to express its import.
Sir W. Hamilton.
To use a word of Bacon's, now unfortunately obsolete, we must
determine the relative value of knowledges.
H. Spencer.
3. That which is gained and preserved by knowing; instruction;
acquaintance; enlightenment; learning; scholarship; erudition.
Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.