Emily Dickinson Lexicon

KNOWL'EDGE, n. [nol'lej; Chaucer, knowleching, from knowleche, to acknowledge. Qu. the sense of lech.]

1. A clear and certain perception of that which exists, or of truth and fact; the perception of the connection and agreement, or disagreement and repugnancy of our ideas. – Encyc. Locke. We can have no knowledge of that which does not exist. God has a perfect knowledge of all his works. Human knowledge is very limited, and is mostly gained by observation and experience.
2. Learning; illumination of mind. Ignorance is the curse of God, / Knowledge the wing wherewith we fly to heaven. – Shak.
3. Skill; as, a knowledge of seamanship.
4. Acquaintance with any fact or person. I have no knowledge of the man or thing.
5. Cognizance; notice. – Ruth ii.
6. Information; power of knowing. – Sidney.
7. Sexual intercourse. But it is usual to prefix carnal; as, carnal knowledge.