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recognizance - 5 dictionary results

re⋅cog⋅ni⋅zance

  [ri-kog-nuh-zuhns, -kon-uh-]
Use recognizance in a Sentence
–noun
1. Law.
a. a bond or obligation of record entered into before a court of record or a magistrate, binding a person to do a particular act.
b. the sum pledged as surety on such a bond.
2. Archaic. recognition.
3. Archaic. a token; badge.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME reconissaunce, recognisance < OF reconuissance. See recognize, -ance
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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re·cog·ni·zance   (rĭ-kŏg'nĭ-zəns, -kŏn'ĭ-)   
n.  
  1. Law
    1. An obligation of record that is entered into before a court or magistrate, containing a condition to perform a particular act, such as making a court appearance.
    2. A sum of money pledged to assure the performance of such an act.
  2. A recognition.
  3. Archaic A pledge; a token.

[Middle English recognisanze, from Old French recognuissance, alteration (influenced by Medieval Latin recognizāre, to recognize) of reconoissance, from reconoistre, reconoiss-, to recognize; see recognize.]
re·cog'ni·zant adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Recognizance

Re*cog"ni*zance\, n. [F. reconnaissance, OF. recognoissance, fr. recognoissant, p. pr. of recognoistre to recognize, F. reconna[^i]tre, fr. L. recognoscere; pref. re- re- + cognoscere to know. See Cognizance, Know, and cf. Recognize, Reconnoissance.] [Written also recognisance.]

1. (Law) (a) An obligation of record entered into before some court of record or magistrate duly authorized, with condition to do some particular act, as to appear at the same or some other court, to keep the peace, or pay a debt. A recognizance differs from a bond, being witnessed by the record only, and not by the party's seal. (b) The verdict of a jury impaneled upon assize. --Cowell.

Note: Among lawyers the g in this and the related words (except recognize) is usually silent.

2. A token; a symbol; a pledge; a badge.

That recognizance and pledge of love Which I first gave her. --Shak.

3. Acknowledgment of a person or thing; avowal; profession; recognition.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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recognizance 
c.1386, reconyssaunce, from O.Fr. reconissance "acknowledgment, recognition" (Fr. reconnaissance), from prp. stem of reconoistre (see recognize).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: re·cog·ni·zance
Pronunciation: ri-'käg-n&-z&ns
Function: noun
Etymology: Anglo-French recognisance reconisance, literally, recognition, from Old French reconoisance, from reconoistre to recognize, from Latin recognoscere
1 : an obligation entered into on the record before a court or magistrate requiring the performance of an act (as the paying of a debt) usually under penalty of a money forfeiture; also : the sum liable to forfeiture
2 : a simple personal obligation or undertaking (as to appear in court) entered into before a magistrate and having no money penalty attached recognizance>
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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