n. The largest hammer used by smiths. Weale. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. acknowledged p. pr. & vb. n. acknowledging ] [ Prob. fr. pref. a- + the verb knowledge. See Knowledge, and cf. Acknow. ] 1. To own or admit the knowledge of; to recognize as a fact or truth; to declare one's belief in; as, to acknowledge the being of a God. [ 1913 Webster ]

I acknowledge my transgressions. Ps. li. 3. [ 1913 Webster ]

For ends generally acknowledged to be good. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To own or recognize in a particular character or relationship; to admit the claims or authority of; to give recognition to. [ 1913 Webster ]

In all thy ways acknowledge Him. Prov. iii. 6. [ 1913 Webster ]

By my soul, I'll ne'er acknowledge thee. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To own with gratitude or as a benefit or an obligation; as, to acknowledge a favor, the receipt of a letter. [ 1913 Webster ]

They his gifts acknowledged none. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To own as genuine; to assent to, as a legal instrument, to give it validity; to avow or admit in legal form; as, to acknowledge a deed. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To avow; proclaim; recognize; own; admit; allow; concede; confess. -- Acknowledge, Recognize. Acknowledge is opposed to keep back, or conceal, and supposes that something had been previously known to us (though perhaps not to others) which we now feel bound to lay open or make public. Thus, a man acknowledges a secret marriage; one who has done wrong acknowledges his fault; and author acknowledges his obligation to those who have aided him; we acknowledge our ignorance. Recognize supposes that we have either forgotten or not had the evidence of a thing distinctly before our minds, but that now we know it (as it were) anew, or receive and admit in on the ground of the evidence it brings. Thus, we recognize a friend after a long absence. We recognize facts, principles, truths, etc., when their evidence is brought up fresh to the mind; as, bad men usually recognize the providence of God in seasons of danger. A foreign minister, consul, or agent, of any kind, is recognized on the ground of his producing satisfactory credentials. See also Confess. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. Capable of being acknowledged. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

pos>adj. Generally accepted or recognized as correct or reasonable. Opposite of unacknowledged. [ Narrower terms: given, granted; unquestionable (vs. questionable) ] Also See: known.
Syn. -- accepted, recognized [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

adv. Confessedly. [ 1913 Webster ]

/mhw>, n. 1. The act of acknowledging; admission; avowal; owning; confession. “An acknowledgment of fault.” Froude. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The act of owning or recognizing in a particular character or relationship; recognition as regards the existence, authority, truth, or genuineness; a statement acknowledging something or someone. [ 1913 Webster +WordNet 1.5 ]

Immediately upon the acknowledgment of the Christian faith, the eunuch was baptized by Philip. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The owning of a benefit received; courteous recognition; the state or quality of being recognized or acknowledged; an expression of thanks. Shak.
Syn. -- recognition [ 1913 Webster +WordNet 1.5 ]

4. Something given or done in return for a favor, message, etc. Smollett. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A declaration or avowal of one's own act, to give it legal validity; as, the acknowledgment of a deed before a proper officer. Also, the certificate of the officer attesting such declaration. [ 1913 Webster ]

Acknowledgment money, in some parts of England, a sum paid by copyhold tenants, on the death of their landlords, as an acknowledgment of their new lords. Cowell. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Confession; concession; recognition; admission; avowal; recognizance. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who acknowledges. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. See Allege. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ This spelling, corresponding to abridge, was once the prevailing one. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. Clay. ] (Mining.) The upper stratum of fuller's earth. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Disacknowledged p. pr. & vb. n. Disacknowledging. ] To refuse to acknowledge; to deny; to disown. [ Obs. ] South. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Mil.) One of the dowels joining the ends of the fellies which form the circle of the wheel of a gun carriage. Wilhelm. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ OE. flegge, flygge; akin to D. vlug, G. flügge, flücke, OHG. flucchi, Icel. fleygr, and to E. fly. √84. See Fly, v. i. ] Feathered; furnished with feathers or wings; able to fly. [ 1913 Webster ]

His shoulders, fledge with wings. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. & i. [ imp. & p. p. Fledged p. pr. & vb. n. Fledging. ] 1. To furnish with feathers; to supply with the feathers necessary for flight. [ 1913 Webster ]

The birds were not as yet fledged enough to shift for themselves. L'Estrange. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To furnish or adorn with any soft covering. [ 1913 Webster ]

Your master, whose chin is not yet fledged. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. having developed feathers or plumage; often used in combination; -- of birds. [ Narrower terms: fledgling(prenominal), fledgeling(prenominal) ] unfledged
Syn. -- mature. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. equipped with feathers; -- of an arrow.
Syn. -- vaned. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adj. not equipped with feathers; -- of an arrow.
Syn. -- unfledged, unvaned. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. a new member of a group.
Syn. -- newcomer, fledgeling, starter, neophyte, freshman, entrant. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. A young bird just fledged. [ wns=2 ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Knowledge of a thing before it happens, or of whatever is to happen; prescience. [ 1913 Webster ]

If I foreknew,
Foreknowledge had no influence on their fault. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Frank free + pledge. ] (O. Eng. Law) (a) A pledge or surety for the good behavior of freemen, -- each freeman who was a member of an ancient decennary, tithing, or friborg, in England, being a pledge for the good conduct of the others, for the preservation of the public peace; a free surety. (b) The tithing itself. Bouvier. [ 1913 Webster ]

The servants of the crown were not, as now, bound in frankpledge for each other. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. having reached full development with fully grown adult plumage; ready to fly; -- of a bird. fledgling
Syn. -- fully fledged. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. having gained full status; -- of persons in respect to human roles; as, a full-fledged lawyer; by the age of seventeen I was a full-fledged atheist.
Syn. -- fully fledged. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. To pledge. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Mutual knowledge or acquaintance. [ Obs. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To pledge mutually. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. cant edge, corner, D. kant. See Cant edge, angle. ] (Naut.) Pigs of iron used for ballast. [ Written also kintlidge. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. knowlage, knowlege, knowleche, knawleche. The last part is the Icel. suffix -leikr, forming abstract nouns, orig. the same as Icel. leikr game, play, sport, akin to AS. lāc, Goth. laiks dance. See Know, and cf. Lake, v. i., Lark a frolic. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The act or state of knowing; clear perception of fact, truth, or duty; certain apprehension; familiar cognizance; cognition. [ 1913 Webster ]

Knowledge, which is the highest degree of the speculative faculties, consists in the perception of the truth of affirmative or negative propositions. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is or may be known; the object of an act of knowing; a cognition; -- chiefly used in the plural. [ 1913 Webster ]

There is a great difference in the delivery of the mathematics, which are the most abstracted of knowledges. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Knowledges is a term in frequent use by Bacon, and, though now obsolete, should be revived, as without it we are compelled to borrow “cognitions” to express its import. Sir W. Hamilton. [ 1913 Webster ]

To use a word of Bacon's, now unfortunately obsolete, we must determine the relative value of knowledges. H. Spencer. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. That which is gained and preserved by knowing; instruction; acquaintance; enlightenment; learning; scholarship; erudition. [ 1913 Webster ]

Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. 1 Cor. viii. 1. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ignorance is the curse of God;
Knowledge, the wing wherewith we fly to heaven. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. That familiarity which is gained by actual experience; practical skill; as, a knowledge of life. [ 1913 Webster ]

Shipmen that had knowledge of the sea. 1 Kings ix. 27. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Scope of information; cognizance; notice; as, it has not come to my knowledge. [ 1913 Webster ]

Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldst take knowledge of me? Ruth ii. 10. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Sexual intercourse; -- usually preceded by carnal; same as carnal knowledge.

Syn. -- See Wisdom. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To acknowledge. [ Obs. ] “Sinners which knowledge their sins.” Tyndale. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. thoroughly acquainted with and skilled in something through study or experience; as, knowledgeable in classical languages. Opposite of unversed, unacquainted, and unfamiliar.
Syn. -- versed. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. fully informed. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

3. highly educated; having information or understanding.
Syn. -- enlightened, learned, lettered, literate, well-educated, well-read. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

-- knowledgeability, n. -- knowledgeably, adv. -- knowledgeableness, n. [ PJC ]

n. The application of computerized data and text manipulation to manage and interpret large bodies of knowledge, or find useful information in large bodies of data. The study of methods for knowledge engineering is generally considered as a branch of artificial intelligence. [ PJC ]

a. Requiring access to and manipulation of large quantities of knowledge; as, knowledge-intensive labor. [ PJC ]

n. A person whose occupation is predominantly concerned with generating or interpreting information, as contrasted with manual labor. [ PJC ]

n. [ Akin to AS. licgan to lie, Icel. liggja; cf. Icel. lögg the ledge or rim at the bottom of a cask. See Lie to be prostrate. ] [ Formerly written lidge. ] 1. A shelf on which articles may be laid; also, that which resembles such a shelf in form or use, as a projecting ridge or part, or a molding or edge in joinery. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A shelf, ridge, or reef, of rocks. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A layer or stratum. [ 1913 Webster ]

The lowest ledge or row should be of stone. Sir H. Wotton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Mining) A lode; a limited mass of rock bearing valuable mineral. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Shipbuilding) A piece of timber to support the deck, placed athwartship between beams. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Ledgment. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Akin to D. legger layer, daybook (fr. leggen to lay, liggen to lie), E. ledge, lie. See Lie to be prostrate. ] 1. A book in which a summary of accounts is laid up or preserved; the final book of record in business transactions, in which all debits and credits from the journal, etc., are placed under appropriate heads. [ Written also leger. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Arch.) (a) A large flat stone, esp. one laid over a tomb. Oxf. Gloss. (b) A horizontal piece of timber secured to the uprights and supporting floor timbers, a staircase, scaffolding, or the like. It differs from an intertie in being intended to carry weight. [ Written also ligger. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Ledger bait, fishing bait attached to a floating line fastened to the bank of a stream, pond, etc. Walton. J. H. Walsh. --
Ledger blade, a stationary shearing blade in a machine for shearing the nap of cloth. --
Ledger line. See Leger line, under 3d Leger, a. --
Ledger wall (Mining), the wall under a vein; the foot wall. Raymond. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. plege, pleige, pledge, guaranty, LL. plegium, plivium; akin to OF. plevir to bail, guaranty, perhaps fr. L. praebere to proffer, offer (sc. fidem a trust, a promise of security), but cf. also E. play. √28. Cf. Prebend, Replevin. ] 1. (Law) The transfer of possession of personal property from a debtor to a creditor as security for a debt or engagement; also, the contract created between the debtor and creditor by a thing being so delivered or deposited, forming a species of bailment; also, that which is so delivered or deposited; something put in pawn. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Pledge is ordinarily confined to personal property; the title or ownership does not pass by it; possession is essential to it. In all these points it differs from a mortgage [ see Mortgage ]; and in the last, from the hypotheca of the Roman law. See Hypotheca. Story. Kent. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Old Eng. Law) A person who undertook, or became responsible, for another; a bail; a surety; a hostage. “I am Grumio's pledge.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A hypothecation without transfer of possession. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Anything given or considered as a security for the performance of an act; a guarantee; as, mutual interest is the best pledge for the performance of treaties. “That voice, their liveliest pledge of hope.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A promise or agreement by which one binds one's self to do, or to refrain from doing, something; especially, a solemn promise in writing to refrain from using intoxicating liquors or the like; as, to sign the pledge; the mayor had made no pledges. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ 1913 Webster ]

6. A sentiment to which assent is given by drinking one's health; a toast; a health. [ 1913 Webster ]

Dead pledge. [ A translation of LL. mortuum vadium. ] (Law) A mortgage. See Mortgage. --
Living pledge. [ A translation of LL. vivum vadium. ] (Law) The conveyance of an estate to another for money borrowed, to be held by him until the debt is paid out of the rents and profits. --
To hold in pledge, to keep as security. --
To put in pledge, to pawn; to give as security. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- See Earnest. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Pledged p. pr. & vb. n. Pledging. ] [ Cf. OF. pleiger to give security. See Pledge, n. ] 1. To deposit, as a chattel, in pledge or pawn; to leave in possession of another as security; as, to pledge one's watch. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To give or pass as a security; to guarantee; to engage; to plight; as, to pledge one's word and honor. [ 1913 Webster ]

We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor. The Declaration of Independence. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To secure performance of, as by a pledge. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

To pledge my vow, I give my hand. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To bind or engage by promise or declaration; to engage solemnly; as, to pledge one's self. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To invite another to drink, by drinking of the cup first, and then handing it to him, as a pledge of good will; hence, to drink the health of; to toast. [ 1913 Webster ]

Pledge me, my friend, and drink till thou be'st wise. Cowley. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The one to whom a pledge is given, or to whom property pledged is delivered. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having no pledge. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who pledges. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. OF. pleigerie. ] A pledging; suretyship. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Prov. E., a small plug. ] 1. A small plug. [ Prov. End. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Naut.) A string of oakum used in calking. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Med.) A compress, or small flat tent of lint, laid over a wound, ulcer, or the like, to exclude air, retain dressings, or absorb the matter discharged. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. (Law) One who pledges, or delivers anything in pledge; a pledger; -- opposed to pledgee. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ This word analogically requires the e after g, but the spelling pledgor is perhaps commoner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Prior knowledge. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Law) A surety for the appearance of a person at a given time. Bracton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Knowledge of one's self, or of one's own character, powers, limitations, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Perhaps from sleds, pl. of sled, confused with sledge a hammer. See Sled, n. ] 1. A strong vehicle with low runners or low wheels; or one without wheels or runners, made of plank slightly turned up at one end, used for transporting loads upon the snow, ice, or bare ground; a sled. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A hurdle on which, formerly, traitors were drawn to the place of execution. [ Eng. ] Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A sleigh. [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A game at cards; -- called also old sledge, and all fours. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. & t. [ imp. & p. p. Sledged p. pr. & vb. n. Sledging. ] To travel or convey in a sledge or sledges. Howitt. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. slecge, from sleán to strike, beat. See Slay, v. t. ] A large, heavy hammer, usually wielded with both hands; -- called also sledge hammer. [ 1913 Webster ]

With his heavy sledge he can it beat. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Not fledged; not feathered; hence, not fully developed; immature. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Not acknowledged or recognized. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

For which bounty to us lent
Of him unknowledged or unsent. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]