recognize English · revision 4661

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1414|origins=la recognoscere}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈrek.əɡ.naɪz/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|recognisen]], [[bor|frm|reconoiss-]], the stem of reconoistre “to know again, identify”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from [[la|recognōscere|t=to know again, recall to mind; examine, certify]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from re- “again” and cognōscere “to get to know”.^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) The ending was assimilated to verbs in -ize, under the influence of Medieval Latin recognizare.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) Etymonline also allows a back-formation from [[recognizance]].^(Etymonline) It is related to [[recognition]], [[cognition]] and [[reconnaissance]].^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To resume possession of land: 1414 in Barnhart,^(Barnhart 1988) the early 15th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) It first entered English in such legal senses,^(Cresswell 2021) earliest as a term of Scots law (1456 in the OED).^(OED 1989)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ To acknowledge or admit is from 1531–1532,^(OED 1989) and to acknowledge formally, treat as valid, as in ''recognize a government'', from 1548–1549.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) To know a person or thing again, to perceive as already known, is from the 1530s, at first in the form recognosce.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) Trench noted that in earlier English it also meant to review or to reconnoitre (1637),^(Trench 1859)^(OED 1989) senses now obsolete.^(OED 1989) The use “to identify by a distinctive feature” dates only from the early 18th century.^(Cresswell 2021) To allow a person to speak in a meeting is a later sense.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1414 – to resume possession of land.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1456 – in Scots law.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1531–32 – to acknowledge, admit.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1533 – to know again.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1548–49 – to acknowledge as valid.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1637 – to reconnoitre.^(OED 1989)

+ * early 18th century – to identify by a feature.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To know someone or something because one has seen, heard or experienced them before.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To accept that something is true or important: ''recognize a problem''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To accept officially as legal or valid: ''recognize a new state''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To show [[appreciation]] of someone's work or achievement.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To allow someone to speak in a [[meeting]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[recognizable]]

+ * [[recognizably]]

+ * [[recognizer]]

+ * [[recognizability]]

+ * [[derecognize]]

+ * [[unrecognizable]]

+ * [[recognizance]]

+ * [[recognizee]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[recognition]]

+ * [[reconnaissance]]

+ * [[acknowledge]]

+ * [[cognition]]

+ * [[reconnoitre]]

+ * [[know]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The spelling recognise is common in British English.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}