cognoscenti
UK[ˌkɒnjəˈʃenti]US[ˌkɑːnjəˈʃenti]
n
people who are especially well-informed about a particular subject; connoisseurs or experts.
Etymology
the word 'cognoscenti' entered english directly from italian in the late 18th century, where it functions as the plural of 'cognoscente', meaning 'a connoisseur'. its ultimate source is the latin verb 'cognoscere', a compound of 'co-' (intensive or completive) and 'gnoscere' (to know), which itself stems from the proto-indo-european root gno- (to know). this ancient root is the source of many english knowledge-related words like 'know', 'notice', and 'cognition'. the term 'cognoscenti' thus carries the literal sense of 'those who know', evolving in modern usage to specifically denote a group possessing sophisticated, often exclusive, knowledge or taste in a specialized field, distinguishing them from the general public.
Analysis
the word is borrowed as a whole from italian. it is derived from the latin verb 'cognoscere', meaning 'to get to know, to recognize'. the italian suffix '-i' indicates a plural noun.
Examples
the gallery opening was attended primarily by the art cognoscenti.
his latest novel is full of references that only the literary cognoscenti will fully appreciate.
the subtle changes in the recipe were immediately noted by the city's food cognoscenti.