Word Story Text

Know, K N O W is a double whammy word.

It has two issues. There's the ow and there's the kn. Know can be grouped with friends, such as show slow and grow.

But you'll wanna keep it away from the how, cow now. That means teach these groups of words at different times.

Work on one before starting on the other so they don't get in each other's way. That's the ow.

Then there's the kn, which is a diagraph that occurs at the start of many words, know, knot, knit, knife and so on.

You've probably taught that pattern separately. So know, K N O W is like adding one and one to get two: kn plus ow pronounced O equals know.

Know is an example of a word where it can be useful to use more than one neighborhood when teaching.

To teach the kn spelling at the beginning of the word, it could be useful to group know with words like knew, knee and knife. To teach the ow spelling of the O Sound at the end of the word, it could be useful to teach it with words like blow crow, grow, and show.

By breaking the word into its onset no and rhyme ow, you can show children that even though the spelling looks a little weird, the word does have friends. It would also probably be best to keep know away from words where the ow spelling makes a different sound. Like cow, how and now.

More Rhymes

know (nō), noun Knee. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Know (nō), transitive verb [imperfect Knew (nū); past participle Known (nōn); present participle or verbal noun Knowing.] [OE. knowen, knawen, AS. cnäwan; akin to OHG. chnäan (in comp.), Icel. knä to be able, Russ. znate to know, L. gnoscere, noscere, Gr. γιγηώσκειν, Skr. jnā; fr. the root of E. can, intransitive verb, ken. √45. See Ken, Can to be able, and cf. Acquaint, Cognition, Gnome, Ignore, Noble, Note.]

1. To perceive or apprehend clearly and certainly; to understand; to have full information of; as, to know one’s duty.

O, that a man might know
The end of this day's business ere it come! Shak.

There is a certainty in the proposition, and we know it. Dryden.

Know how sublime a thing it is To suffer and be strong. Longfellow.

2. To be convinced of the truth of; to be fully assured of; as, to know things from information.

3. To be acquainted with; to be no stranger to; to be more or less familiar with the person, character, etc., of; to possess experience of; as, to know an author; to know the rules of an organization.

He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin. 2 Cor. v. 21.

Not to know me argues yourselves unknown. Milton.

4. To recognize; to distinguish; to discern the character of; as, to know a person's face or figure.

Ye shall know them by their fruits. Matt. vil. 16.

And their eyes were opened, and they knew him. Luke xxiv. 31.

To know
Faithful friend from flattering foe. Shak.

At nearer view he thought he knew the dead. Flatman.

5. To have sexual intercourse with.

And Adam knew Eve his wife. Gen. iv. 1.

☞ Know is often followed by an objective and an infinitive (with or without to) or a participle, a dependent sentence, etc.

And I knew that thou hearest me always. John xi. 42.

The monk he instantly knew to be the prior. Sir W. Scott.

In other hands I have known money do good. Dickens.

To know how

to understand the manner, way, or means; to have requisite information, intelligence, or sagacity. How is sometimes omitted.

“ If we fear to die, or know not to be patient.” Jer. Taylor.

Know, intransitive verb

1. To have knowledge; to have a clear and certain perception; to possess wisdom, instruction, or information; – often with of.

Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. Is. i. 3.

If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. John vii. 17.

The peasant folklore of Europe still knows of willows that bleed and weep and speak when hewn. Tylor.

2. To be assured; to feel confident.

To know of

to ask, to inquire.

[Obs.] “ Know of your youth, examine well your blood.” Shak.

-- Webster's unabridged 1913