2007-02-27 01:52:53 · 5 answers · asked by Jimmy Mac 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
1. lacking knowledge or awareness in general; uneducated or unsophisticated: 'he was told constantly that he was ignorant and stupid'.
• lacking knowledge, information, or awareness about something in particular: 'I was largely ignorant of the effects of radiotherapy'.
2. (informal) discourteous or rude: 'this ignorant, pin-brained receptionist'.
3. (black English) easily angered.
- DERIVATIVES ignorantly adverb .
- ORIGIN late Middle English: via Old French from Latin ignorant- ‘not knowing’, from the verb ignorare.
2007-02-27 04:49:11 · answer #1 · answered by gurlu 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ignorance is a lack of knowledge. Ignorance is also the state of being ignorant or uninformed. For example, "Bill lost the debate because he was ignorant of that subject." In such a case the term is not pejorative, and may even be used as a self-descriptive term, as in, "I am ignorant of English history." Another definition states that ignorance is the choice to not act or behave in accordance with regard to certain information in order to suit ones own needs or beliefs. For example, "I know better but I choose to ignore that and act in a way that behooves me." Ignorance is often misinterpreted as a synonym of stupidity, and is as thus often taken as an insult, when really it is, in its correct form, not an insult at all but a criticism.
Ignorance is bliss is a phrase that comes from Thomas Gray's poem, "Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College" (1742): "Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise."
2007-02-27 10:21:54 · answer #2 · answered by cristaline 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are three possible meanings:
Lacking education or knowledge.
Showing or arising from a lack of education or knowledge: e.g.an ignorant mistake.
Being unaware or uninformed.
The word comes from theMiddle English ignoraunt, from Old French ignorant, from Latin ignÅrÄns, ignÅrant-, present participle of ignÅrÄre, to be ignorant, not to know.
This is because when we are truly ignorant, we don't know how lacking in knowledge we in fact are.
2007-02-27 10:44:29 · answer #3 · answered by Doethineb 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
lack of knowledge, it is used as an insult, but it means - lack of knowledge
2007-02-27 10:02:08 · answer #4 · answered by kizdrop 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Not knowing
2007-02-27 10:02:23 · answer #5 · answered by CURIOUS 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋