ignorant English · revision 10355

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1374|origins=fro ignorant|origins=la ignorans}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈɪɡ.nə.ɹənt/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English ignoraunt, [[bor|fro|ignorant]], from Latin ignōrāns, ignōrantem, not knowing,^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002) the present participle of ignōrāre, not to know, to take no notice of (see [[ignore]]),^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) from in-, not, and Old Latin gnārus, aware, acquainted with (related to nōscere, to know).^(Etymonline) Its form was influenced by Latin ignōtus, unknown.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Lacking knowledge, unaware: about 1374 in the OED, the late 14th century in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The noun, an ignorant person, is from the mid-15th century.^(Etymonline) Having no knowledge of something, ''ignorant of'', is from 1483,^(OED 1989) and showing or resulting from lack of knowledge from 1509.^(OED 1989) The native Middle English word was uncunning.^(Etymonline) The colloquial sense, ill-mannered or rude, is attested by 1886;^(Etymonline) in Irish English it also meant presumptuous or forward.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1374 – lacking knowledge.^(OED 1989)

+ * mid-15th century – an ignorant person (noun).^(Etymonline)

+ * 1483 – ignorant of.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1509 – showing ignorance.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1886 – ill-mannered.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Lacking education or knowledge.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Unaware or uninformed: ''ignorant of the law''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Showing or resulting from a lack of knowledge.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(informal)'' Rude or ill-mannered.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ignorantly]]

+ * [[ignorantness]]

+ * [[nonignorant]]

+ * [[superignorant]]

+ * [[unignorant]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ignoramus]]

+ * [[ignorance]]

+ * [[ignore]]

+ * [[know]]

+ * [[notice]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}