know-nothing

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See also: Know-Nothing

English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Essentially deverbal in nature, albeit not from a unitary phrasal verb; compare do-nothing § Etymology.

Adjective[edit]

know-nothing (not comparable)

  1. Ignorant; characterized by foolish denial of facts or beliefs in that which is not true.
    • 2017 February 20, Paul Mason, “Climate scepticism is a far-right badge of honour – even in sweltering Australia”, in the Guardian[1]:
      All over the world, know-nothing xenophobes are claiming – without evidence – that climate science is rigged.

Noun[edit]

know-nothing (plural know-nothings)

  1. An ignorant person; one who lacks knowledge.
    Synonym: ignoramus

Translations[edit]