\Ig"no*rant\, a. [F., fr. L. ignorans, -antis, p. pr.
of ignorare to be ignorant. See {Ignore}.]
1. Destitute of knowledge; uninstructed or uninformed;
   untaught; unenlightened.
         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.
2. Unacquainted with; unconscious or unaware; -- used with
   of.
         Ignorant of guilt, I fear not shame.  --Dryden.
3. Unknown; undiscovered. [Obs.]
         Ignorant concealment.                 --Shak.
         Alas, what ignorant sin have I committed? --Shak.
4. Resulting from ignorance; foolish; silly.
         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 want 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.
           In such business Action is eloquence, and the eyes
           of the ignorant More learned than the ears.
                                               --Shak.
           In the first ages of Christianity, not only the
           learned and the wise, but the ignorant and
           illiterate, embraced torments and death.
                                               --Tillotson.

\Ig"no*rant\, n.
A person untaught or uninformed; one unlettered or unskilled;
an ignoramous.
      Did I for this take pains to teach Our zealous
      ignorants to preach?                     --Denham.