I. ˈnōiŋ, -ōēŋ noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from knowen to know + -ing
1.
a.
(1) : the action or fact of knowing or understanding
avoided their knowing about this
her knowing was a source of comfort
(2) : the process or faculty of getting to know or of arriving at understanding
no knowing what may happen
a power beyond his knowing — Atlantic
b. : the action of knowing by intuition or indirection or the faculty of getting to know or arrive at understanding through intuition or indirection
the knowings of art are real … but they are not utterly reliable — H.J.Muller
c. : something that is apprehended or capable of being apprehended by such an action, process, or faculty
underlying every concrete situation he sees the fusion of knowings and the known — J.R.Kantor
2. : the condition or fact of possessing understanding or information or of being aware of something
in private, in secret knowing — N.L.Rothman
II. adjective
( sometimes -er/-est )
Etymology: Middle English, from present participle of knowen to know
1.
a. : having or reflecting knowledge, information, or insight : marked by understanding and intelligence : well-informed and marked by a ready capacity for further learning : knowledgeable
a knowing student
a knowing instructor
b.
(1) : having or reflecting the keen awareness and insight and power of discernment typical of the specialist or expert : highly perceptive especially in a specialized or exclusive field
a knowing collector of rare books
has done an excellent and knowing job in selecting the material for this book — J.C.Smith
(2) : having or reflecting distinct skill
knowing brushwork on ceiling and doors — Claudia Cassidy
c.
(1) : that indicates or is marked by awareness of and careful conformity to what is chic and currently in style : smart
a knowing selection of gloves and accessories
(2) : marked by sophistication or snobbishness
a distasteful air of pretentious smartness, of being altogether too knowing — Herbert Read
2.
a.
(1) : shrewd and keenly alert : quick-witted , astute
a knowing handling of the business deal
: wide-awake
any knowing person could have seen what was going on
(2) : worldly-wise
produces knowing chuckles — E.R.Bentley
perhaps a bit too knowing and sensuous — Robert Lawrence
b. : that reflects or is designed to indicate possession of confidential, secret, or otherwise exclusive inside knowledge or information
poised her fork and gave her guest a knowing look — Louis Bromfield
a knowing wink
maintain a discreet and knowing silence on the subject — Harry Gordon
: that indicates an awareness or insight not generally shared
the two young officers exchanged knowing glances — W.M.Thackeray
3.
a. : that knows, is capable of knowing, or is the means of knowing : cognitive
in full possession of the ordinary knowing faculties
b. archaic : cognizant
knowing to and familiar with the whole circumstances — George Catlin
4. : that is done with awareness or deliberateness : that is intentional
indiscriminate classification of innocent with knowing activity — Civil Liberties
Synonyms: see intelligent