English
recognizance
Recognizance comes from Old French reconissance, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *ǵneh₃- ‘to recognise’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ǵneh₃-‘to recognise’root as named · steps between not traced
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400reconissance
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500reconisaunce
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1603–1604recognizance
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ǵneh₃-‘to recognise’root as named · steps between not traced
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400reconissance
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500reconisaunce
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1603–1604recognizance
Earliest quotation: c. 1603–1604, William Shakespeare, The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice: “That recognizance and pledge of love / Which I…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *ǵneh₃- ‘to recognise’
can, know, could, note, normal, notice, narrative, glory, noble, ken, ignore, notion, keen, con, norm, notorious, recognition, ignorant, diagnostic, cognitive, notation, nobility, narration, cunning, quaint, notoriety, notary, prognosis, gnome, agnostic, cognition, connoisseur, canny, incognito, kith, canna, uncouth, gnosis, annotate, cun, 91 more
Today it means
noun A form of bail; a promise made by the accused to the court that they will attend all required judicial proceedings and will not engage in further illegal activity or other prohibited conduct as set by the court.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *ǵneh₃- / recognizance