Dictionary formcognosco, cognoscere, cognovi, cognitum
Translation
to learn, get to know; to recognise, understand
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Examples
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We want to learn the truth.
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I learned the matter from your letter.
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The case having been heard, the judge gave the verdict.
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He did not recognise his own father.
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Know yourself.
Cognosco, cognoscere, cognovi, cognitum is third conjugation, cum plus nosco, and the -sc- is an inceptive infix: the present means "I am coming to know", not "I know". The perfect is where the knowing has arrived, so cognovi is best translated "I know" and the pluperfect cognoveram as "I knew". Get that backwards and half your sentences will be a tense out.
Latin splits what English lumps together. Scio is knowing a fact, cognosco is finding it out, nosco is the plain acquaintance. There is a legal use worth knowing: cognoscere causam is to investigate a case, hence causa cognita, "after hearing the case", and the cognitio of imperial jurisdiction. English cognition, recognise, notion and, through French, acquaint all belong here. Manuscripts write cognouit for cognovit.
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Latin · Free printables
cognosco: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the Latin word "cognosco" (to learn, get to know; to recognise, understand): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
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Start your free weekThis word is taught in chapter 8, lesson 12: cognosco, heu, huiusmodi and 10 more words.