recognize
Pronunciation: /ˈrɛkəgnʌɪz/
(also recognise)
verb
- 1identify (someone or something) from having encountered them before; know again: I recognized her when her wig fell off Julia hardly recognized Jill when they met
- identify from knowledge of appearance or character: Pat is very good at recognizing wild flowers
- (of a computer or other machine) automatically identify and respond correctly to (a sound, printed character, etc.): Dr Friedman is programming his computer to recognize the shapes of strokes in the hands of various writers
- 2acknowledge the existence, validity, or legality of: the defence is recognized in British law he was recognized as an international authority
- show official appreciation of; reward formally: his work was recognized by an honorary degree from Glasgow University
- officially regard (a qualification) as valid or proper: these qualifications are recognized by the Department of Education
- grant diplomatic recognition to (a country or government): countries which recognized East Germany they were refusing to recognize the puppet regime
- (of a person presiding at a meeting or debate) call on (someone) to speak.
Origin:
late Middle English (earliest attested as a term in Scots law): from Old French reconniss-, stem of reconnaistre, from Latin recognoscere 'know again, recall to mind', from re- 'again' + cognoscere 'learn'
Spelling help
Remember that recognize and the related word recognition are spelled with -cog- in the middle.