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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Misknawlage, -lege, n. Also: -laige, -ladge, -ledge, misknaulege, mysknawleg(e, -knaulage. [Knawlag(e n. Cf. Misknowledge.]

1. a. Want of discernment, understanding or judgement. b. Lack of knowledge, ignorance. c. Inaccurate knowledge, misunderstanding. c1420 Ratis R. 834.
The mast motyve that I of red, That is misknawlege of ȝouthed Ib. 1420.
And jugment beis al forȝet And vilfulnes and mysknawleg Ay wodly weildand 1513 Doug. viii. iv. 4.
Na superstitioun vayn Nor misknawlage of goddis ancyane a1540 Freiris Berw. 245.
Allace, Be misknawlege I had almaist misgane 1558–9 Statut. Sc. Ch. 157.
The ignorance and misknawladge [of the sacraments] 1561 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 111.
In the tyme of blindnes and mysknawlege of the treuth 1566 Acts To reader iii.
Misknawlege is ane maner … of excusatioun to mony men of thair fault 1567 Reg. Privy C. I. 585.
Misknawlege of the valu of sic unlauchfull bandis 1570 Warrender P. MS. 130.
Quhat hattret the misknawlege of men in thair awin placis hes generat 1576–7 Reg. Privy C. II. 581. 1578 Ib. 702.
Vpoun misknawlege that thay pertene [to] his majestie a1578 Pitsc. II. 75/12.
Misknawledge 1585 Acts III. 375/2. 1586 Reg. Privy C. IV. 108.
Misknaulege 1592 Acts III. 574/1. 1622-6 Bisset I. 79/28.
Misknawlaige

2. The failure to know or understand or to recognize or acknowledge God or His glory. 1549 Compl. 27/21.
To puneis us for the mysknaulage of His magestie Ib. 125/29.
Ther dissolutione and the mysknaulage of God … is the cause of my impatiens a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. cvi. 1.
Off God the misknawlege, Off sin the grit vsage