nosco

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈnoːs.koː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈnɔs.ko]^[1]

Forms

nōscō (present infinitive nōscere, perfect active nōvī, supine nōtum); third conjugation^[1] The old form is gnōscō, with gnōscier in the Senatus consultum de Bacchanalibus.^[2][3] Perfect forms are often contracted: nōstī, nōrunt, nōram.^[4]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *gnōske-, inherited from Proto-Indo-European *ǵn̥h₃-sḱé- (“to come to know”), from the root Proto-Indo-European *ǵneh₃- (“to know”).^[2] At first gnōscō meant “to get to know”, and the perfect nōvī “I know”.^[2] Cognate with Ancient Greek γιγνώσκω (gignṓskō, “to know”), Sanskrit जानाति (jānā́ti, “knows”), Hittite kanešš- (“to recognize”) and English know.^[2][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Old forms with gn- appear in the Senatus consultum de Bacchanalibus and in Plautus.^[2][4] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

In the present system it was to get to know or find out, to become acquainted with a person or thing, to examine, to recognize and to accept as valid.^[4] The perfect nōvī meant “I know”, as in Plautus' nōn nōstī nōmen meum? “don't you know my name?”.^[4] It could also be a euphemism for sexual relations.^[1]

In Late Latin Christian writers used it of acknowledging God.^[1] Its compounds cognōscō, agnōscō and ignōscō and its derivatives nōbilis and nōtitia were common.^[2] English notice comes from nōtitia.^[6]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^[4][5]
• early 15th century – English notice is recorded, from nōtitia.^[6]

Meanings

Verb

1. To get to know, find out, learn.^[4][3]
2. To become acquainted with (a person or thing).^[4]
3. To examine, inspect.^[4]
4. To recognize.^[4][1]
5. To accept as valid, acknowledge.^[4]
6. In the perfect, to know, be acquainted with.^[4][1]
7. To know sexually.^[1]

Word family

• agnōscō
• cognōscō
• dīnōscō
• ignōscō
• internōscō
• nōbilis
• noscentia
• nōscibilis
• nōscitō
• nota
• nōtificō
• nōtiō

Related words

• gnārus
• ignōrō
• nōmen
• English know
• English notice

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
3. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
5. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com