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recognise

 - 3 dictionary results

rec⋅og⋅nize

  [rek-uhg-nahyz]
Use recognise in a Sentence
–verb (used with object), -nized, -niz⋅ing.
1. to identify as something or someone previously seen, known, etc.: He had changed so much that one could scarcely recognize him.
2. to identify from knowledge of appearance or characteristics: I recognized him from the description. They recognized him as a fraud.
3. to perceive as existing or true; realize: to be the first to recognize a fact.
4. to acknowledge as the person entitled to speak at a particular time: The Speaker recognized the Congressman from Maine.
5. to acknowledge formally as entitled to treatment as a political unit: The United States promptly recognized Israel.
6. to acknowledge or accept formally a specified factual or legal situation: to recognize a successful revolutionary regime as the de facto government of the country.
7. to acknowledge or treat as valid: to recognize a claim.
8. to acknowledge acquaintance with, as by a greeting, handshake, etc.
9. to show appreciation of (achievement, service, merit, etc.), as by some reward, public honor, or the like.
10. Law. to acknowledge (an illegitimate child) as one's own.
11. Biochemistry, Immunology. to bind with, cleave, or otherwise react to (another substance) as a result of fitting its molecular shape or a portion of its shape.
Also, especially British, rec⋅og⋅nise.

Origin:
1425–75; recogn(ition) + -ize; r. late ME racunnysen, recognisen < OF reconuiss-, s. of reconuistre < L recognōscere, equiv. to re- re- + cognōscere to know 1 ; see cognition

Related forms:
rec⋅og⋅niz⋅a⋅ble  [rek-uhg-nahy-zuh-buhl, rek-uhg-nahy-] , adjective
rec⋅og⋅niz⋅a⋅bil⋅i⋅ty, noun
rec⋅og⋅niz⋅a⋅bly, adverb
rec⋅og⋅niz⋅er, noun

Synonyms:
3. acknowledge, appreciate, understand, grant, concede.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Word Origin & History

recognize 
1414, "resume possession of land," from M.Fr. reconiss-, stem of reconoistre "to know again, identify, recognize," from O.Fr., from L. recognoscere "acknowledge, recall to mind, know again, examine, certify," from re- "again" + cognoscere "know" (from co- "with" + gnoscere "become acquainted;" see notice). Meaning "perceive something or someone as already known" first recorded 1533.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: rec·og·nize
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: -nized; -niz·ing
1 : to acknowledge formally: as a : to admit as being of a particular status <recognize a precedent> <recognize a union>; specifically : to acknowledge (as a right, cause of action, or defense) as valid b : to admit as being one entitled to be heard : give the floor to c : to acknowledge the de facto existence or the independence of recognize the new government>
2 : to account for as real, received, or incurred and treat and record appropriately; specifically : to account for (a gain, loss, expense, or income) on current accounting or tax records <recognized the gain when she included it as income on her tax return> —compare REALIZE
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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