cognoscenti

[kon-yuh-shen-tee, kog-nuh-] Example Sentences Origin

co·gno·scen·ti

[kon-yuh-shen-tee, kog-nuh-]
plural noun, singular co·gno·scen·te [-tee] .
persons who have superior knowledge and understanding of a particular field, especially in the fine arts, literature, and world of fashion.


Origin:
1770–80; < Italian, Latinized variant of conoscente (present participle of conoscere to know) < L. See cognition, -ent
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Cognoscenti is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.
the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.
Example Sentences
  • For years, apparently, engineering cognoscenti and amateur scientists have wrestled with clinging shower curtains.
  • Her work is what many contemporary art cognoscenti would call blissfully out of it.
  • Social media has become so ubiquitous in online endeavors that it is now shortened simply to social by the cognoscenti.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
cognoscenti or conoscenti (ˌkɒnjəʊˈʃɛntɪ, ˌkɒɡnəʊ-)
 
pl n , sing -te
(sometimes singular) people with informed appreciation of a particular field, esp in the fine arts; connoisseurs
 
[C18: from obsolete Italian (modern conoscente), from Latin cognōscere to know, learn about]
 
conoscenti or conoscenti (ˌkɒnjəʊˈʃɛntɪ, ˌkɒɡnəʊ-, -tiː)
 
pl n
 
[C18: from obsolete Italian (modern conoscente), from Latin cognōscere to know, learn about]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

cognoscenti
pl. of cognoscente (q.v.).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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