COGNIZANCE
awareness, consciousness, cognizance, cognisance, knowingness
(noun) having knowledge of; “he had no awareness of his mistakes”; “his sudden consciousness of the problem he faced”; “their intelligence and general knowingness was impressive”
cognizance
(noun) range or scope of what is perceived
cognizance, ken
(noun) range of what one can know or understand; “beyond my ken”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
cognizance (countable and uncountable, plural cognizances)
An emblem, badge or device, used as a distinguishing mark by the body of retainers of a royal or noble house.
Notice or awareness.
Jurisdiction.
Source: Wiktionary
Cog"ni*zance ( or ; 277), n. Etym: [OF. conissance, conoissance, F. conaissance, LL. cognoscentia, fr. L. cognoscere to know. See Cognition, and cf. Cognoscence, Connoisseur.]
1. Apprehension by the understanding; perception; observation. Within the cognizance and lying under the control of their divine Governor. Bp. Hurd
2. Recollection; recognition. Who, soon as on that knight his eye did glance, Eftsoones of him had perfect cognizance. Spenser.
3. (Law) (a) Jurisdiction, or the power given by law to hear and decide controversies. (b) The hearing a matter judicially. (c) An acknowledgment of a fine of lands and tenements or confession of a thing done. [Eng.] (d) A form of defense in the action of replevin, by which the defendant insists that the goods were lawfully taken, as a distress, by defendant, acting as servant for another. [Eng.] Cowell. Mozley & W.
4. The distinguishing mark worn by an armed knight, usually upon the helmet, and by his retainers and followers: Hence, in general, a badge worn by a retainer or dependent, to indicate the person or party to which he belonged; a token by which a thing may be known. Wearing the liveries and cognizance of their master. Prescott. This pale and angry rose, As cognizance of my blood-drinking hate. Shak.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
12 January 2025
HABIT
(noun) (psychology) an automatic pattern of behavior in reaction to a specific situation; may be inherited or acquired through frequent repetition; “owls have nocturnal habits”; “she had a habit twirling the ends of her hair”; “long use had hardened him to it”
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