English
know one's place
know (“to be aware of”) + one's place (“one's current position in life”)
Formed from know ‘to be aware of’ + one's place ‘one's current position in life’
Proto-Germanic *knēaną ‘to know’
Proto-West Germanic *knāan ‘to recognise’
Old English cnāwan ‘to know’
Middle English knowen ‘to know’
English know
Today it means
verb To understand one's rank or status and behave accordingly; to act humbly.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / know one's place