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cognitus

Etymology and origin of the Latin word cognitus

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Latin nosco
Latin cognosco
Latin cognitus
English quaint
Latin accognosco

cognitus1 known

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Cicero
Ultimate origin
Proto-Indo-European (*ǵneh₃-)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈkɔŋ.nɪ.tʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈkɔɲ.ɲi.tus][1]

Forms

cognitus m (genitive cognitūs); fourth declension[1]

Etymology

The adjective is the perfect participle of cognōscō “to get to know”.[2][3] De Vaan traces ⟨nōscō⟩ to Proto-Italic *gnōske-, from Proto-Indo-European *ǵnh₃-sḱé- (“to know”).[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations as an adjective are from Cicero.[2] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

Of facts it meant known from experience, ascertained, as in Cicero; of persons, known, noted, as in Cicero's homō in rēbus iūdicandīs spectātus et cognitus “a man tried and known in judging”; and of qualities, proved, recognised, as in cognita virtūs “proven valour”.[2] It has a comparative cognitior in Ovid and a superlative in Catullus.[6]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of facts and persons.[2][5]
  • 81/79–52/50 BC – Catullus uses cognitissimus.[6][5]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. (of facts) Known from experience, ascertained.[2]
  2. (of persons) Known, noted.[2]
  3. (of qualities) Proved, recognised.[2]

cognitus2 getting to know (noun)

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Apuleius
Ultimate origin
Proto-Indo-European (*ǵneh₃-)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈkɔŋ.nɪ.tʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈkɔɲ.ɲi.tus][1]

Forms

cognitus m (genitive cognitūs); fourth declension[1]

Etymology

The noun is from Latin cognōscō (“to get to know”) + -tus, a verbal noun of the fourth declension.[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Lewis & Short cite Apuleius, variōrum populōrum cognitus “acquaintance with various peoples”.[3][5] Köbler dates Apuleius c. 125–175 AD.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant the act of getting to know, acquaintance.[2][3] In British Medieval Latin it meant knowledge, as in the logician Adam of Balsham.[7]

Timeline

  • c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius uses it.[3][5]

Meanings

Noun

  1. The act of getting to know, acquaintance.[2][3]
  2. (Medieval Latin) Knowledge.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  5. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  7. ^ a b Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press

Descendants

Cite this entry

“Cognitus.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/cognitus. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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