- Ignorant
- Ignorant Ig"no*rant, a. [F., fr. L. ignorans, -antis, p. pr.
of ignorare to be ignorant. See {Ignore}.]
1. Destitute of knowledge; uninstructed or uninformed;
untaught; unenlightened.
[1913 Webster]
He that doth not know those things which are of use for him to know, is but an ignorant man, whatever he may know besides. --Tillotson. [1913 Webster]
2. Unacquainted with; unconscious or unaware; -- used with of. [1913 Webster]
Ignorant of guilt, I fear not shame. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
3. Unknown; undiscovered. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
Ignorant concealment. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Alas, what ignorant sin have I committed? --Shak. [1913 Webster]
4. Resulting from ignorance; foolish; silly. [1913 Webster]
His shipping, Poor ignorant baubles! -- on our terrible seas, Like eggshells moved. --Shak.
Syn: Uninstructed; untaught; unenlightened; uninformed; unlearned; unlettered; illiterate. -- {Ignorant}, {Illiterate}. Ignorant denotes lack of knowledge, either as to single subject or information in general; illiterate refers to an ignorance of letters, or of knowledge acquired by reading and study. In the Middle Ages, a great proportion of the higher classes were illiterate, and yet were far from being ignorant, especially in regard to war and other active pursuits. [1913 Webster]
In such business Action is eloquence, and the eyes of the ignorant More learned than the ears. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
In the first ages of Christianity, not only the learned and the wise, but the ignorant and illiterate, embraced torments and death. --Tillotson. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.