Semantic differences of *vedeti and *znati verbs in Proto-Slavic and Old East Slavic languages

The article analyses the semantic differences of the Proto-Slavic *věděti and *znati verbs in the Proto-Slavic and Old East Slavic languages. The meaning of these verbs is reconstructed according to the semantics of the corresponding derivations found in those languages. In the Russian language of the XI-XVIIth centuries the semantic domain of the *zna- root is not typical of ‘all-knowing, wise’, ‘the one who knows’, ‘the one who has knowledge of supernatural things’. This domain mainly belongs to the *věd- root, whereas *zna- root belongs to the domain of ‘sign (visually percieved)’, ‘familiar’. These forementioned differences confirm the hypothesis that the main meaning of the *znati verb is closely related to the idea of getting to know, being acquainted [(with) something or somebody].