Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “cognition” come from?

Cognition comes from Middle English cognicion, from Latin cognitio, the noun form of cognitus (known), formed with the suffix -īvus and the prefix con- meaning together or with.

cognition (English): The process of knowing, of acquiring knowledge...

Definitions

  1. The process of knowing, of acquiring knowledge...

Ancestry of “cognition”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishcognicion—
2Latincognitioexamination, inquiry, investigation; learning,...
3Latincognitusknown , recognised, having been recognised;...
4Latincognōscere—
5Latinco-allomorph of con-
6Latincōn-—
7Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
8Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
9Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
10Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
11Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
12Middle Englishkyt—
13Germankitt—
14Old High Germankuti—
15Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
16Proto-Germanickweduzresin
17Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
18Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “cognition”

  • metacognition
  • cognitional
  • neurocognition
  • retrocognition
  • miscognition
  • noncognition
  • postcognition
  • cognification
  • cognitology
  • cognitologist
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →