Ken

Part of speech: noun, verb

Pronunciation: /kɛn/

Definitions

1. The extent of perception or knowledge regarding a subject encompasses the ability to comprehend or recognize information
2. The scope of awareness or insight that one has includes the capacity to grasp or be cognizant of facts
3. The area or range within which a person can understand or be aware of something

Etymology: The verb "ken" meant "to make known" long before it meant "to know." It is a causative of "cunnan," an Old English verb meaning "to become acquainted with, to know," so the original sense was closer to "cause to know" or "make known." That same root gave English the verb "can," which once meant "to know" and only later came to mean "to be able." The two words are close cousins, and both trace back to a Germanic verb for knowing. The noun "ken," meaning range of knowledge or perception, is the more familiar sense today, as in "beyond my ken." It appears in Scots and northern English, and its cognates across the Germanic languages include Dutch "kennen," German "kennen," and Swedish "känna," all meaning "to know." The noun's own origin is less certain. Some suggest a link to "kennel," but this remains a guess, so the connection should be treated as unproven.

Synonyms: understanding, knowledge, awareness

Antonyms: ignorance, unawareness