Here's a breakdown:
* Old English: The word "knowledge" originated from the Old English word "cneowlēċe," where "c" was pronounced as a hard "k" sound.
* Middle English: Over time, the pronunciation of "c" before "n" shifted from a hard "k" to a "ch" sound (similar to the "ch" in "church"). This change happened in many words like "knife," "knight," and "knee."
* Modern English: Although the spelling remained "knowledge," the pronunciation became "nol-ij" due to the sound shift that occurred during the Middle English period.
Therefore, the "k" in "knowledge" is considered silent because it is no longer pronounced, even though it was pronounced in Old English. This phenomenon is common in English and is often referred to as "silent letters."