noscere

Noscere is a Latin verb meaning to know, to become acquainted with, or to learn. It is a standard member of the third conjugation. The present active infinitive is noscere, and the present indicative forms are noscō, noscis, nōscit, noscimus, noscitis, nōscunt. The imperfect is noscēbam, noscēbās, noscēbat, noscēbāmus, noscēbātis, nōscēbant. The perfect indicative is nōvī, nōvistī, nōvit, nōvimus, nōvistis, nōverunt.

Usage: Nosco is transitive and typically takes a direct object in the accusative to express knowledge of a person or thing, as in noscō rem or noscō hūmānum. It can denote gaining knowledge through inquiry or experience and can convey discovery, recollection, or becoming familiar with a topic. In classical Latin it may appear in indirect statements or with de to indicate knowledge about a subject, among other constructions.

Origins and related terms: The verb is the source of several Latin compounds and related forms, including cognoscere (to learn or become aware). The same root underlies English terms such as cognition, cognitive, and recognize, reflecting the long-standing link between Latin and the vocabulary of knowledge. Noscere is common in both early and later Latin literature and remains a standard entry in Latin dictionaries for the concept of knowing.