Where does “knowledge” come from?

Knowledge derives from Middle English knowleche, itself from Middle English knowen, which comes from Old English cnāwan, ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European ǵneh₃-.

knowledge (English): The fact of knowing about something; general...

Definitions

  1. The fact of knowing about something; general...

Ancestry of “knowledge”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishknowlecheknowledge
2Middle Englishknowento know
3Old Englishcnāwanto know, perceive, recognise; to know, recognise,...
4Proto-West Germanicknāanto recognise, to know
5Proto-Germanicknēanąto know, recognise, understand
6Proto-Indo-Europeanǵneh₃-to know

Words derived from “knowledge

Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵneh₃-Every word from Proto-Germanic knēanąEvery word from Proto-West Germanic knāan
knowledge — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer