Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “recognize” come from?

Recognize comes from Latin recognoscere, formed from the prefix re- meaning "again" and cognoscere meaning "to know," ultimately from com meaning "together" and gnoscere meaning "to know."

recognize (English): To match to a memory of some previous encounter...

Definitions

  1. To match to a memory of some previous encounter...

Ancestry of “recognize”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcognizeTo know, perceive, or become aware of; To make...
2EnglishcognizanceAn emblem, badge or device, used as a...
3Old Frenchconysancerecognition," later, "knowledge
4Old Frenchconoissanceknowledge
5Old Frenchconoistreto know; to recognize
6Latincognōscere—
7Latinco-allomorph of con-
8Latincōn-—
9Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
10Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
11Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
12Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
13Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
14Middle Englishkyt—
15Germankitt—
16Old High Germankuti—
17Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
18Proto-Germanickweduzresin
19Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
20Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “recognize”

  • recognizable
  • unrecognizable
  • recognizably
  • recognizer
  • recognizability
  • misrecognize
  • unrecognizably
  • derecognise
  • recognizee
  • derecognize
  • irrecognizable
  • recognization
  • nonrecognizable
  • unrecognize
  • underrecognize
  • recognin
  • recognizableness
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →