Word Meanings - KNOW-NOTHING - Book Publishers vocabulary database

A member of a secret political organization in the United States, the chief objects of which were the proscription of foreigners by the repeal of the naturalization laws, and the exclusive choice of native Americans for office. Note: The

Additional info about word: KNOW-NOTHING

A member of a secret political organization in the United States, the chief objects of which were the proscription of foreigners by the repeal of the naturalization laws, and the exclusive choice of native Americans for office. Note: The party originated in 1853, and existed for about three years. The members of it were called Know-nothings, because they replied "I don't know," to any questions asked them in reference to the party.

Related words: (words related to KNOW-NOTHING)

• CHIEFLESS
  Without a chief or leader.
• STATESMANLIKE
  Having the manner or wisdom of statesmen; becoming a statesman.
• CHOICE
  1. Worthly of being chosen or preferred; select; superior; precious; valuable. My choicest hours of life are lost. Swift. 2. Preserving or using with care, as valuable; frugal; -- used with of; as, to be choice of time, or of money. 3. Selected
• UNITERABLE
  Not iterable; incapable of being repeated. "To play away an uniterable life." Sir T. Browne.
• REPEALABILITY
  The quality or state of being repealable.
• OFFICEHOLDER
  An officer, particularly one in the civil service; a placeman.
• SECRETE
  To separate from the blood and elaborate by the process of secretion; to elaborate and emit as a secretion. See Secretion. Why one set of cells should secrete bile, another urea, and so on, we do not known. Carpenter. Syn. -- To conceal; hide. See
• CHOICELY
  1. With care in choosing; with nice regard to preference. "A band of men collected choicely, from each county some." Shak. 2. In a preferable or excellent manner; excellently; eminently. "Choicely good." Walton.
• MEMBER
  A part of an animal capable of performing a distinct office; an organ; a limb. We have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office. Rom. xii. 4. 2. Hence, a part of a whole; an independent constituent of a body; as: A part
• UNITIVE
  Having the power of uniting; causing, or tending to produce, union. Jer. Taylor.
• SECRETARY
  secretari, Sp. & Pg. secretario, It. secretario, segretario) LL. secretarius, originally, a confidant, one intrusted with secrets, 1. One who keeps, or is intrusted with, secrets. 2. A person employed to write orders, letters, dispatches, public
• CHIEFEST
  First or foremost; chief; principal. "Our chiefest courtier." Shak. The chiefest among ten thousand. Canticles v. 10.
• ORGANIZATION
  1. The act of organizing; the act of arranging in a systematic way for use or action; as, the organization of an army, or of a deliberative body. "The first organization of the general government." Pickering. 2. The state of being organized; also,
• UNITARIANISM
  The doctrines of Unitarians.
• PROSCRIPTIONIST
  One who proscribes.
• POLITICALLY
  1. In a political manner. 2. Politicly; artfully. Knolles.
• WHICHEVER; WHICHSOEVER
  Whether one or another; whether one or the other; which; that one which; as, whichever road you take, it will lead you to town.
• REPEAL
  1. Recall, as from exile. The tribunes are no soldiers; and their people Will be as rash in the repeal, as hassty To expel him thence. Shak. 2. Revocation; abrogation; as, the repeal of a statute; the repeal of a law or a usage.
• SECRET
  segreto), fr. L. secretus, p.p. of secrernere to put apart, to 1. Hidden; concealed; as, secret treasure; secret plans; a secret vow. Shak. The secret things belong unto the Lord our God; but those things which are revealed belong unto us. Deut.
• UNITARIANIZE
  To change or turn to Unitarian views.
• ELIMINATIVE
  Relating to, or carrying on, elimination.
• NOMINATIVELY
  In the manner of a nominative; as a nominative.
• UNDERSECRETARY
  A secretary who is subordinate to the chief secretary; an assistant secretary; as, an undersecretary of the Treasury.
• EMANATIVE
  Issuing forth; effluent.
• DOMINATIVE
  Governing; ruling; imperious. Sir E. Sandys.
• POST OFFICE
  See POST
• REGNATIVE
  Ruling; governing.
• MISREMEMBER
  To mistake in remembering; not to remember correctly. Sir T. More.
• COORDINATIVE
  Expressing coördination. J. W. Gibbs.
• KERCHIEF
  couvrechef, F. couvrechef, a head covering, fr. couvrir to cover + 1. A square of fine linen worn by women as a covering for the head; hence, anything similar in form or material, worn for ornament on other parts of the person; -- mostly used in
• METROPOLITICAL
  Of or pertaining to a metropolis; being a metropolis; metropolitan; as, the metropolitical chair. Bp. Hall.
• MISCHIEF
  + chief end, head, F. chef chief. See Minus, and 1. Harm; damage; esp., disarrangement of order; trouble or vexation caused by human agency or by some living being, intentionally or not; often, calamity, mishap; trivial evil caused by
• BOOKING OFFICE
  1. An office where passengers, baggage, etc., are registered for conveyance, as by railway or steamship. 2. An office where passage tickets are sold.