Noun as Adjective?

Question

I have come across the term "unknown unknown" (i.e., an unknown unknown event), and found two different authors using two different definitions.

a) something we did not even know that we did not know (i.e., we were unaware that we did not know it - as was famously used in Rumsfeld's speech). It seems in this case the first unknown is used as an adjective to describe the second unknown which is used as a noun.

b) something that was completely unknown to the entire scientific community. It seems the use of the term unknown twice is because: we did not know it, and others did not know it

For option b to be correct, wouldn't it need a hyphen? Or is there anyway that option b could be correct for that matter?

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

Anonymousan unknown unknown event

This seems implausible. Either an event is known or not.
I would not know how to interpret that phrase.
The fact that it is an event implies we already are aware that something happened. Usually one "unknown" suffices:

Before the microscope, life on the microscopic scale was unknown. It was not even conceived that such life could exist.

It probably all goes back to this proverb:

He who knows not and knows not he knows not, He is a fool - Shun him.
He who knows not and knows he knows not, He is simple - Teach him.
He who knows and knows not he knows, he is asleep - Awaken him.
He who knows and knows that he knows, He is wise - Follow him.

CalifJim · Answer

Anonymousthe term "unknown unknown"
the first unknown is used as an adjective to describe the second unknown which is used as a noun.

This seems reasonable.

I'm not familiar with b), however, and I have no opinion about hyphenation in that case.

CJ

GPY · Answer

Anonymousa) something we did not even know that we did not know (i.e., we were unaware that we did not know it - as was famously used in Rumsfeld's speech). It seems in this case the first unknown is used as an adjective to describe the second unknown which is used as a noun.

This is correct for the case "an unknown unknown" by itself, but personally I wouldn't interpret the second "unknown" in "unknown unknown event" as a noun, but as an adjective modifying "event". Nevertheless, I would still interpret the overall meaning similarly -- i.e. we were unaware that we did not know about it -- just through familiarity with the normal "unknown unknown" expression. I cannot grasp how explanation (b) would work.

Noun as Adjective?

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