recognize

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To match (something or someone which one currently perceives) to a memory of some previous encounter with the same person or thing.

   I recognized his face immediately, although his voice was different.

2. 2
   verb

   To acknowledge the existence or legality of; to treat as valid or worthy of consideration.

   The US and a number of EU countries are expected to recognize Kosovo on Monday.

3. 3
   verb

   To acknowledge or consider (as being a certain thing or having a certain quality or property).

   Slavery is widely recognized as immoral.

4. 4
   verb

   To realize or discover the nature of something; apprehend quality in.

   In plants, the ability to recognize self from nonself plays an important role in fertilization, because self-fertilization will result in less diverse offspring than fertilization with pollen from another individual.

5. 5
   verb

   To show formal appreciation of, as with an award, commendation etc.

   His services were recognized in a testimonial.

6. 6
   verb

   To review; to examine again.

   We do moste humbly submytte it [this treatise] to[…]your maiestie, to be recognised, ouersene, and corrected.

7. 7
   verb

   To reconnoiter.

   before the siege was layd to the Towne, of minde to recognize, he fell unawares amongst an Ambushcade

8. 8
   verb

   accept (someone) to be what is claimed or accept his power and authority

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French reconoistre, from Old French reconoistre, from Latin recognoscere, first attested in the 16th century. Displaced native English acknow (“to recognize, perceive as”), compare German erkennen and Swedish erkänna. Latin had rare recognizare (“to try by jury”).