cognition
UK[kɒɡˈnɪʃ(ə)n]US[kɑːɡˈnɪʃ(ə)n]
n
The mental action or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses.
n
A result of this process; a perception, sensation, idea, or intuition.
Morpheme Breakdown
co
gnit
ion
co
together
gnit
to know
ion
action/process
Etymology
The word "cognition" traces its lineage to the Latin verb cognoscere, meaning "to get to know, recognize, or become acquainted with." This verb itself is a compound of the intensive prefix com- (together, thoroughly) and the root gnoscere (to know). The root gnoscere descends from the Proto-Indo-European (PIE) root ǵneh₃-, which signifies "to know." This ancient root is the prolific ancestor of many knowledge-related words across Indo-European languages, including "know," "notice," and "noble." Over time, the literal sense of "getting to know" evolved into the modern, abstract psychological term denoting the entire intellectual process of acquiring and processing knowledge.
Analysis
Structure: co (together) + gnit (to know) + ion (action/process)
- co: A prefix from Latin, meaning "together" or "with." It functions as an intensifier or denotes completeness in this word.
- gnit: A root from the Latin verb gnoscere (to know), which is a variant of noscere. It carries the core meaning of knowing.
- ion: A suffix from Latin -ionem, indicating an action, process, or its result. It forms abstract nouns.
Examples
The study aims to understand the neural mechanisms underlying human cognition.
Aging can sometimes affect memory and other aspects of cognition.
Her research bridges the gap between artificial intelligence and animal cognition.