Etymologically
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cognosco

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [kɔŋˈnoːs.koː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [koɲˈɲɔs.ko][1]

Forms

cognōscō (present infinitive cognōscere, perfect active cognōvī, supine cognitum); third conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin con- + nōscō (“to get to know”), from older gnōscō.[2][3][4] nōscō is from Proto-Italic *gnāske-, Proto-Indo-European *ǵnh₃-sḱé- (“to get to know”); de Vaan explains the long vowel /oː/ as introduced to keep it apart from nāscor “to be born”.[4] Cognate with Ancient Greek γιγνώσκω (gignṓskō, “to know”) and Sanskrit जानाति (jānā́ti, “knows”).[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan records it from Plautus onwards.[4] In the Miles Gloriosus a character says he now sees he acted foolishly, as he learns the facts.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant to get to know, learn, find out, and in the perfect cognōvī “I know”; contracted forms such as cognōram and cognōstī are frequent.[2][6] It also meant to study or master a subject, to become acquainted with persons and places, and to learn by experience.[2] It meant to recognize someone already known, as when Plautus' nurse is the first to recognize a girl.[2] In law it meant to investigate or try a case, as Cicero says nobody can be condemned without a hearing, causā incognitā.[2] The Vulgate uses it as a euphemism for sexual intercourse.[1]

In medieval Latin it kept the senses of perceiving and recognizing.[7] Its descendants include French connaître, Italian conoscere, Spanish conocer and Romanian cunoaște.[1] English quaint comes, through Old French cointe, from its participle cognitus.[8]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of learning and recognizing.[2][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of judicial investigation.[2][5]
  • c. 1200 – English quaint is recorded, from its participle.[8]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To get to know, learn, find out; in the perfect, to know.[2][1]
  2. To study, master a subject.[2]
  3. To become acquainted with; to know by experience.[2][1]
  4. To perceive, discern.[2]
  5. To recognize.[2][1]
  6. (law) To investigate, hear or try a case.[2]
  7. (euphemistic) To have sexual intercourse with.[1]

Word family

  • accognōscō
  • cognitiō
  • cognitor
  • cognitōrius
  • cognitus
  • cognōbilis
  • cognōscibilis
  • incognitus
  • incognoscō
  • percognoscō
  • praecognōscō
  • recognōscō

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  4. ^ a b c d 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 Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com