From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Cognizance \Cog"ni*zance\ (? or ?; 277), n. [OF. conissance,
conoissance, F. connaissance, LL. cognoscentia, fr. L.
cognoscere to know. See Cognition, and cf. Cognoscence,
Connoisseur.]
1. Apprehension by the understanding; perception;
observation.
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Within the cognizance and lying under the control of
their divine Governor. --Bp. Hurd
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2. Recollection; recognition.
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Who, soon as on that knight his eye did glance,
Eftsoones of him had perfect cognizance. --Spenser.
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3. (Law)
(a) Jurisdiction, or the power given by law to hear and
decide controversies.
(b) The hearing a matter judicially.
(c) An acknowledgment of a fine of lands and tenements or
confession of a thing done. [Eng.]
(d) A form of defense in the action of replevin, by which
the defendant insists that the goods were lawfully
taken, as a distress, by defendant, acting as servant
for another. [Eng.] --Cowell. Mozley & W.
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4. The distinguishing mark worn by an armed knight, usually
upon the helmet, and by his retainers and followers:
Hence, in general, a badge worn by a retainer or
dependent, to indicate the person or party to which he
belonged; a token by which a thing may be known.
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Wearing the liveries and cognizance of their master.
--Prescott.
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This pale and angry rose,
As cognizance of my blood-drinking hate. --Shak.
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From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
cognizance
n 1: having knowledge of; "he had no awareness of his mistakes";
"his sudden consciousness of the problem he faced"; "their
intelligence and general knowingness was impressive" [syn:
awareness, consciousness, cognizance, cognisance,
knowingness] [ant: incognizance]
2: range of what one can know or understand; "beyond my ken"
[syn: cognizance, ken]
3: range or scope of what is perceived