Dictionary formnescio, nescire, nescivi, nescitum
Translation
not to know, be ignorant of
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Examples
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I do not know what you are saying.
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We do not know his name.
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He does not know where his brother is.
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The boy said he did not know.
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They did not know what to do.
Nescio, nescire, nescivi (or nescii), nescitum, fourth conjugation, and transparently ne plus scio, "I do not know". It takes a plain accusative for a thing, an accusative and infinitive for a reported fact, and an indirect question with the subjunctive when a question word follows.
That last point hides a trap. Nescio quis has frozen into a fixed phrase meaning "some one or other", and there the following verb stays indicative: nescio quid dixit is "he said something or other", while nescio quid dixerit is a real indirect question, "I do not know what he said". The mood is the only signal. Spanish necio, "foolish", descends from nescius, and so, by a long detour through French, does English nice.
Where this fits
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nescio: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the Latin word "nescio" (not to know, be ignorant of): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
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Start your free weekThis word is taught in chapter 4, lesson 4: nescio, aurum, adversus and 6 more words.