different between unacquainted vs unknown

English

Etymology

From un- +? acquainted.

Adjective

unacquainted (comparative more unacquainted, superlative most unacquainted)

1. Not acquainted, unfamiliar (with someone or something).
   • 1563, Arthur Golding (translator), The Historie of Leonard Aretine concerning the Warres betwene the Imperialles and the Gothes for the Possession of Italy, London: George Bucke, Book 1, Chapter 10, p. 38,^[1]

     The Romains vnacquainted with such perills, wold not endure the hasard of the siege.

   • 1705, William Dampier, Voyages and Descriptions, London: James Knapton, Volume 2, “Voyages to the Bay of Campeachy,” Chapter 1, p. 26,^[2]

     […] from our Main-top we saw the Islands to the Southward of us, and being unacquainted, knew not whether we might find among them a Channel to pass through […]

   • 1819, Walter Scott, The Bride of Lammermoor, Chapter 20,^[3]

     “ […] Were my mother to see you—to know you, I am sure she would approve; but you are unacquainted personally, and the ancient feud between the families—”

   • 1970, Saul Bellow, Mr. Sammler’s Planet, Greenwich, CT: Fawcett, 1971, Chapter 1, p. 11,^[4]

     To commonplace actions he brought a special pedantic awkwardness. In Poland, France, England, students, young gentlemen of his time, had been unacquainted with kitchens. Now he did things that cooks and maids had once done.

2. (obsolete) Not usual; unfamiliar; strange.
   • 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, London: William Ponsonbie, Book 1, Canto 5, p. 66,^[5]

     Who when she saw Duessa sunny bright,

     Adornd with gold and iewels shining cleare,

     She greatly grew amazed at the sight,

     And th’vnacquainted light began to feare:

   • c. 1596, William Shakespeare, King John, Act V, Scene 2,^[6]

     […] [we] fill up

     Her enemies’ ranks,—I must withdraw and weep

     Upon the spot of this enforced cause,—

     To grace the gentry of a land remote,

     And follow unacquainted colours here?

Translations

References

• unacquainted in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• unacquainted in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

English

Etymology

From un- +? known, past participle of know. Compare Old English ungecnawen.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?n?n??n/
• (US) enPR: ?n-n?n?, IPA^(key): /?n?no?n/

Adjective

unknown (comparative more unknown, superlative most unknown)

1. (sometimes postpositive) Not known; unidentified; not well known.

   Synonyms: anonymous, unfamiliar, uncharted, undiscovered, unexplored, unidentified, unnamed, unrecognized, unrevealed, unascertained, obscure, unsung

   Antonyms: well-known, famous, known

Derived terms

• unknown quantity

Translations

Noun

unknown (plural unknowns)

1. (algebra) A variable (usually x, y or z) whose value is to be found.
2. Any thing, place, or situation about which nothing is known; an unknown fact or piece of information.
3. A person of no identity; a nonentity
   • 1965, Bob Dylan, "Like a Rolling Stone"

     How does it feel

     To be on your own

     With no direction home

     Like a complete unknown

     Like a rolling stone?

Translations

Verb

unknown

1. past participle of unknow