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I've used "beknownst" and "unbeknownst" a couple times but I never really bothered to look it up until now. But it's not in most of the online dictionaries websites I frequent. I'm under the impression that this word is old school; if so, is it still appropriate to use? Or am I better off using some other word that means the same thing?

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Unbeknownst is a beautiful word. – user21318 May 18 '12 at 17:21

4 Answers 4

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Technically there is no such word as 'beknownst' other than as a back-formation of 'unbeknownst' (unbeknown exists and in fact pre-dates unbeknownst. Beknown also exists). It is rather old-fashioned which is probably why some online dictionaries don't list it.

They have essentially been superceded by 'known' and 'unknown', which have equivalent meanings. Nevertheless it is not uncommon to hear:

Unbeknownst to me, my wife had already bought the same present.

Or the like. It is perfectly appropriate to use.

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Of course there is such a word 'beknownst' - and has been for centuries, even if it's now archaic. A few people today may imagine they're "re-coining" it by back-formation from the other archaic word they're more familiar with, but your assertion that somehow "technically" there is no such word is just plain wrong. – FumbleFingers Feb 8 '12 at 6:35
Superseded, not superceded. – Fixee Jul 25 '12 at 6:49
@Fixee 'usage: The standard spelling is supersede rather than supercede. The word is derived from the Latin verb supersedere but has been influenced by the presence of other words in English spelled with a c, such as intercede and accede. The c spelling is recorded as early as the 16th century; although still generally regarded as incorrect, it is now entered without comment in some modern dictionaries.' TIL, thanks! – Sam Jun 3 '14 at 16:18

beknownst is an archaic word, as it is beknown; the meaning of beknown is known.

The word that is used in Modern English is unbeknown (or unbeknownst), which has its origin from beknown.

unbeknown |ˌənbəˈnoʊn| (also unbeknownst)
adjective [ predic. ] (unbeknown to)
without the knowledge of someone: unbeknown to me, she made some inquiries.

ORIGIN middle 17th century: from un- (not) + archaic beknown (known).

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Unbeknownst is strictly an adverb may not be benoted as much as unknown since unknown is a noun and an adjective.

However, it is hardly "archaic" ... I eathly found samples of being in magazines and books in the last decade.

The beverage industry has long supported groups such as Keep America Beautiful (the group famously known for its " crying Indian " ads) that emphasize individual responsibility for Utter collection but which, unbeknownst to most consumers, work behind the scenes to oppose and defeat bottle recycling bills. … E: The Environmental Magazine, 2011

And it is benoted much more than unbeknown: Ngram (Sorry, I couldn't get it to load here.)

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'Beknownst', not archaic at all. Abbreviated from, 'as be known to me'. To simply use known in its stead would cause the confusion as to 'known to whom?'. To imply that it should be understood that one would be referring to oneself is vulgarity.

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This was, by far, the most accurate and knowledgeable of the answers listed. Beknownst is a much more accurate way of describing Yourself as Centre, but not necessarily in 3rd Person. – user107936 Jan 29 at 20:56

protected by tchrist Jan 30 at 0:24


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