kennnis

Kennnis is an archaic or historical spelling of the Dutch noun kennis, meaning knowledge or familiarity. It appears in older Dutch texts and is not used in standard modern spelling.

Etymology: The form kennnis is derived from kennen, to know, combined with the abstract-noun suffix -nis. It is closely related to the modern kennis and to cognate terms in other Germanic languages, such as German Kenntnis.

Usage history: Kennnis occurs in Middle Dutch and Early Modern Dutch, including scholarly, legal, religious, and literary writings. Spelling variation with double n was more common before the standardization of Dutch spelling reforms in the 19th century.

Modern status: In contemporary Dutch, kennnis is considered archaic or dialectal. It is sometimes encountered for stylistic effect in historical novels or poetry, where authors aim to convey an older vernacular.

Related terms: See also kennis (modern Dutch), Kenntnis (German), knowledge (English).