COGNIZANCE • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Cognizance

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/kˈɑgnəzəns/ Listen

noun

Cognizance n.

1.

Apprehension by the understanding; perception; observation. "Within the cognizance and lying under the control of their divine Governor."

2.

Recollection; recognition. "Who, soon as on that knight his eye did glance, Eftsoones of him had perfect cognizance."

3.

(Law)

(a)

Jurisdiction, or the power given by law to hear and decide controversies.

(b)

The hearing a matter judicially.

(c)

An acknowledgment of a fine of lands and tenements or confession of a thing done. (Eng.)

(d)

A form of defense in the action of replevin, by which the defendant insists that the goods were lawfully taken, as a distress, by defendant, acting as servant for another. (Eng.)

4.

The distinguishing mark worn by an armed knight, usually upon the helmet, and by his retainers and followers: Hence, in general, a badge worn by a retainer or dependent, to indicate the person or party to which he belonged; a token by which a thing may be known. "Wearing the liveries and cognizance of their master." "This pale and angry rose, As cognizance of my blood-drinking hate."

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Etymology of 'Cognizance'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Cognizance" Quotes from Famous Books

... teacher of law and morals, legislates for the heart. Men can take cognizance only of deeds. They can not know the heart. Hence they can judge it only by outward manifestations. But Christ knew what was in man. Hence He could legislate for man's thoughts, as well as his deeds. Hence He says: "Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt not commit ...

— Autobiography of Frank G. Allen, Minister of the Gospel - and Selections from his Writings • Frank G. Allen

... the sad and sorry fact that human nature does not change very much despite the vast possibility for improvement, we must anticipate a fix that has been contrived and executed on a level that takes full cognizance of the widespread presence ...

— The Big Fix • George Oliver Smith

... commission under the Great Seal,[3] addressed to the Lords of the Admiralty, instructed them to issue a warrant to the judge of that court, authorizing him during the duration of the war to take cognizance of prize causes. After 1689, it was customary to provide for trial of admiralty causes in colonial ports by giving to each colonial governor, in addition to his commission as governor, a commission as vice-admiral. Before 1689, this was done in a few instances, chiefly ...

— Privateering and Piracy in the Colonial Period - Illustrative Documents • Various

... truth, which they were most violent against; and therefore the presbytery of Inverness sent one of their number to inform the bishop of Murray, then at Glasgow, of the whole affair. But the bishop dying at that time, the arch-bishop of St. Andrews took the affair into his cognizance, and procured an order from the council to bring him to Edinburgh. In consequence of which he was carried south in Jan. 1688. in very tempestuous weather, and was called before the council, where he made a bold and noble stand in defence of the truths he had so solemnly ...

— Biographia Scoticana (Scots Worthies) • John Howie

... have not knowingly done anything ungrateful towards him; proof of this I should be able to furnish. Pardon, dear friend, this unpleasant deviation; unfortunately I am not yet again in that stage of creating which shuts out anything but the present and the future from my cognizance. My spirit still writhes too violently under the impression of a past which, alas! continues wholly to occupy my present. I am still bent on justification, and that I wish to address to ...

— Correspondence of Wagner and Liszt, Volume 1 • Francis Hueffer (translator)

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