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quantity

   Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Medical, Legal, Financial, Acronyms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.01 sec.
*unknown quantity
Fig. a person or thing about which no one is certain. (*Typically: be ~; become ~.) John is an unknown quantity. We don't know how he's going to act. The new clerk is an unknown quantity. Things may not turn out all right.
See also: unknown

known quantity

someone whose character, personality, and behavior are recognized and understood. We need not worry about how John will behave. He is a known quantity. Lisa is a known quantity and I am sure she will not surprise us by voting with the opposition.
See also: known

an unknown quantity
if someone or something is an unknown quantity, you do not know much about them or what effect they will have in the future Turner may do well in the election, though he is an unknown quantity as a campaigner. The new computer system is still an unknown quantity for our department.
See also: unknown


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