Origin of silent K in kn words

Serious now:

These silent "K" words originate from Old English when they were usually spelt "cn" and in those days the "c" was pronounced. So a word like "knock" (with today's silent K) would have been pronounced 'c-nock"

Dear Damian,

Regardless, your posts have made me chortle, something I rarely do. ;)

English orthography is so odd (but I love it!).


Full of love for all but spelling reformation (and perhaps sacrificers of cute puppies),
Ailian

It's good to remember than in German Gn and Kn are pronounced.