ignorant

comparative ignoranter · comparative more ignorant · superlative ignorantest · superlative most ignorant · alternative obsolete ignoraunt · alternative ignant

1. Unknowledgeable or uneducated; characterized by ignorance.

   The ignorant peasant, without fault, is greater than the philosopher with many; for what is genius or courage without an heart?

   1766, Oliver Goldsmith, chapter 15, in The Vicar of Wakefield, volume I, London: F. Newbery, page 150

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   That man that doth not know those things which are of use and necessity for him to know, is but an ignorant man, whatever he may know besides;

   1664, John Tillotson, “Sermon I. The Wisdom of Being Religious. Job XXVIII. 28.”, in The Works of the Most Reverend Dr. John Tillotson, Late Lord Archbishop of Canterbury: […], London: […] B. Aylmer, […]; [a]nd W. Rogers, […], published 1696, →OCLC

2. Not knowing (a fact or facts), unaware (of something).

   That night he slept the sleep of happiness, blissfully ignorant that he had placed the letters in the wrong envelopes.

   1921, John T. McCutcheon, The Restless Age, Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill, page 179

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   For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 2 Corinthians 1:8

   Eve. Somewhat forbids me, which I cannot name; For ignorant of guilt, I fear not shame: But some restraining thought, I know not why, Tells me, you long should beg, I long deny.

   1677, John Dryden, The State of Innocence and Fall of Man, London: Henry Herringman, act II, page 14

   1851, Walt Whitman, “Art and Artists” in Emory Holloway (editor), The Uncollected Poetry and Prose of Walt Whitman, Garden City, NY: Doubleday, Page & Co., 1921, Volume 1, p. 242, […] perhaps it is sometimes the case that the greatest artists live and die, the world and themselves alike ignorant what they possess.

3. slangIll-mannered, crude.

   His manner was at best off-hand, at worst totally ignorant.

4. obsoleteUnknown; undiscovered

   Alas, what ignorant sin have I committed?

   c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii]

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   […] I beseech you, If you know aught which does behove my knowledge Thereof to be inform’d, imprison't not In ignorant concealment.

   c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]

   1845, Robert Browning, letter addressed to Elizabeth Barrett Browning, cited in Percy Lubbock, Elizabeth Barrett Browning in Her Letters, London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1906, Chapter 4, p. 106, […] as to you, your goodness and understanding will always see to the bottom of involuntary or ignorant faults—always help me to correct them.

5. Resulting from ignorance; foolish; silly.

   […] his shipping— Poor ignorant baubles!— upon our terrible seas, Like eggshells moved upon their surges, crack’d As easily ’gainst our rocks:

   1611 April (first recorded performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]

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   He had never felt a pain or a sorrow, and did not know what they were, in any really informing way. He had no knowledge of them except theoretically—that is to say, intellectually. And of course that is no good. One can never get any but a loose and ignorant notion of such things except by experience.

   1916, Mark Twain, chapter 8, in Albert Paine, editor, The Mysterious Stranger, New York: Harper & Bros., page 112

plural ignorants · alternative obsolete ignoraunt · alternative ignant

1. One who is ignorant.