ignorant

a. [ F., fr. L. ignorans, -antis, p. pr. of ignorare to be ignorant. See Ignore. ] 1. Destitute of knowledge; uninstructed or uninformed; untaught; unenlightened. [ 1913 Webster ]

He that doth not know those things which are of use for him to know, is but an ignorant man, whatever he may know besides. Tillotson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Unacquainted with; unconscious or unaware; -- used with of. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ignorant of guilt, I fear not shame. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Unknown; undiscovered. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Ignorant concealment. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Alas, what ignorant sin have I committed? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Resulting from ignorance; foolish; silly. [ 1913 Webster ]

His shipping,
Poor ignorant baubles! -- on our terrible seas,
Like eggshells moved. Shak.

Syn. -- Uninstructed; untaught; unenlightened; uninformed; unlearned; unlettered; illiterate. -- Ignorant, Illiterate. Ignorant denotes lack of knowledge, either as to single subject or information in general; illiterate refers to an ignorance of letters, or of knowledge acquired by reading and study. In the Middle Ages, a great proportion of the higher classes were illiterate, and yet were far from being ignorant, especially in regard to war and other active pursuits. [ 1913 Webster ]

In such business
Action is eloquence, and the eyes of the ignorant
More learned than the ears. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

In the first ages of Christianity, not only the learned and the wise, but the ignorant and illiterate, embraced torments and death. Tillotson. [ 1913 Webster ]