unknown

un·known (-nōn′)

adjective

not known; specif.,

not in the knowledge, understanding, or acquaintance of someone; unfamiliar (to)
not discovered, identified, determined, explored, etc.

noun

modif.

Not known; said of information
uncomprehended, unapprehended, undiscovered, untold, unexplained, unascertained, uninvestigated, unexplored, unheard of, unperceived, concealed, hidden, unrevealed.
Antonyms known*, established*, understood. *
Not known; said of people
alien, unfamiliar, not introduced, unheard of, obscure, foreign, strange, unacknowledged, anonymous, unnamed, ostracized, outcast, friendless, private, retired, aloof, out of the world, rusticated, forgotten.
Not known; said of terrain
unexplored, far-off, remote, far, distant, foreign, undiscovered, exotic, hyperborean, transoceanic, transmarine, ultramontane, antipodal, at the far corners of the earth, faraway, at the uttermost ends of the earth, in parts unknown, outlandish, unheard-of, unfrequented, untraveled, desolate, desert, unvisited, legendary, strange, Atlantean.

Converse of object

remain: Many things about Venus remain unknown, including the cause of mysterious bursts of radio waves.

Adjective modifier

exact: Dominoes are thought to have been invented in China, the exact date unknown.
relative: The cast is superb, from big names like Al Pacino and Meryl Streep to the relative unknowns filling most of the roles.

Modifies a noun

quantity: We are an unknown quantity, ' Mr Scott admits.
origin: Do not feed foreign honey or honey of unknown origin, which may contain AFB spores.
territory: For all topical analgesics there is an element of unknown territory.
content: The text field starts off in an unknown position, with unknown contents.
note: Title unknown Notes in German Lecture, dated 19 October 1807.
etiology: RA is a systemic disease, of unknown etiology, with chronic inflammation affecting multiple joints.

Modifying Another Word

hitherto: Is this some hitherto unknown incident in Scottish History in which King James VI reigned in Madrid as well as Edinburgh?
virtually: Virtually unknown outside the party, Davis needs to declare early to get momentum going.
previously: A previously unknown group calling itself the Military Liberation Union claimed responsibility.
relatively: Take a peek at a corner of England previously relatively unknown to me through the eyes of my camera.
largely: On this basis, the actual contribution of this sector to waste management in the Region appears largely unknown.
practically: As such, their online presence is practically unknown to internet users resulting in lost revenue.

Noun used with modifier

provenance: The site is therefore, often assigned to an article that is sold, provenance unknown, to increase its value.
date: Celtic feast day of ' Sidwell ' of Exeter, date unknown.
destination: Destination unknown: Rokkasho and the international future of nuclear reprocessing ( pdf 126KB ) 12.
author: Seen framed in an office - author unknown: " Discipline!

Used with adjective complement

remain: The first winter ascent of the gully remains unknown.

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