recognition
UK[ˌrekəɡˈnɪʃn]US[ˌrekəɡˈnɪʃn]
n
The act of knowing who or what someone or something is because you have seen, heard, or experienced them before.
n
The act of accepting that something is true, important, or legal.
n
Public praise and reward for someone's work or actions.
Morpheme Breakdown
re
cogn
ition
re
again
cogn
know
ition
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'recognition' has a clear logical path from its Latin components. It originates from the Latin verb recognoscere, which is a compound of re- (meaning "again") and cognoscere (meaning "to get to know"). The literal sense was "to know again" or "to recall to mind." This evolved into the Late Latin noun recognitio, denoting the action of reviewing or acknowledging. In English, the core idea of "knowing again" expanded metaphorically to encompass the modern abstract meanings of formal acknowledgment, validation, and public appreciation for something previously known or established.
Analysis
Structure: re (again) + cogn (know) + ition (noun suffix)
- re: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "again" or "back".
- cogn: Latin origin, from the root cognoscere meaning "to get to know, to recognize".
- ition: Latin origin, a noun-forming suffix indicating an action or process.
Examples
She stared at the photograph in shocked recognition.
There is a growing recognition of the need for environmental protection.
He received an award in recognition of his lifetime achievements.