Unknown. Various dialects of England.--Halliwell. This is a very common word in familiar language in New England. It is regularly formed from the Ang. Sax. be-knowen, to know; to recognise; to acknowledge; pret. bi-knewe; past part. bi-known; all of which are used by Piers Ploughman.
And though it hadde costned me catel
Bi-knowen it I nolde.--Piers Ploughman, Vision, l. 407.
For I am bi-knowen,
Ther konnynge clerkes
Shul clokke bi-hynde.--Ibid. l. 1422.
The sooty wretches [chimney sweeps] stole four good flitches of bacon, as was up the kitchen chimbly, quite unbeknown to me.--T. Hood, The Pagsley Paper.