Ignorance
/ˈɪɡ.nə.rəns/noun
The lack of knowledge, understanding, or awareness about something.
Did you know?The Latin root 'ignorare' means 'to not know' or 'to disregard', suggesting that ignorance can be a deliberate act of the will, almost like a spell we cast on ourselves.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gno-
“to know, recognize, or perceive.”
Latin
Latin
ignorare
“to not know, be unacquainted with.”
Old French
Old French
ignorance
“lack of knowledge or awareness.”
Middle English
Middle English
ignorance
“unawareness, lack of knowledge.”
Modern English
English
ignorance
“the state of being uninformed or unaware.”