Cognoscere

Cognoscere is a Latin verb meaning to know, to learn, or to become acquainted with. In classical and late Latin usage it covers gaining knowledge through inquiry as well as recognizing or discovering something. The verb appears in the infinitive cognoscere and in its principal parts cognosco, cognoscere, cognovi, cognitum, indicating its third‑conjugation form.

Usage in Latin encompasses several related senses. It can govern a direct object, as in rem cognoscere “to know the thing,” or express the act of learning or discovering, as in cognoscere causam “to ascertain the cause.” More broadly, it can imply investigation or awareness. In legal and ecclesiastical Latin it sometimes means to hear, examine, or take cognizance of a matter, as in cognoscere causam.

Etymology and English derivatives. Cognoscere derives from a Proto‑Italic root gno‑/gnosc- meaning “to know,” with the prefix con- contributing to the sense of thorough knowledge. English inherits a family of derivatives such as cognition, cognitive, cognitive, cognizant, and cognizance. The noun cognoscenti, borrowed from Italian, denotes those who are knowledgeable. The verb also yields recognoscere in Latin (and its French descendants) for forms such as recognize/recognition in English. The Latin compound and its derivatives have influenced many terms related to knowledge and perception in modern languages.