recognizance, n.
(rɪˈkɒgnɪzəns, rɪˈkɒn-)
Forms: α. 4 reconnissaunce, 4–5 reconisaunce, -ys(s)aunce, 5–6 -isance, 6–7 -usance, (6 requynesaunce). β. 5–6 recognysa(u)nce, 6 -isaunce, -usance, 7 -issance, 4– recognizance, -isance.
[a. OF. recon(u)issance, (requenoysance), recognussance, etc. (see Godef.; mod.F. reconnaissance), f. recon(o)iss-ant, pres. p. of reconoistre + ance: see recognize v.1 On the spelling and pron. cf. the note to cognizance.]
1. Law. A bond or obligation, entered into and recorded before a court or magistrate, by which a person engages himself to perform some act or observe some condition (as to appear when called on, to pay a debt, or to keep the peace); also, a sum of money pledged as a surety for such performance and rendered forfeit by neglect of it.
| c 1386 Chaucer Shipman's T. 330 He was bounden in a reconyssaunce, To paye twenty thousand sheeld anon. 1436 Rolls of Parlt. IV. 499/2 Bounde by a reconysaunce in youre Chauncellerye, to paye to you at certain dayes in the same recognisance specified. 1459 Ibid. V. 369/1 That every of the seid persones, fynde to youre Highnes sufficient suerte, by reconisauns in youre Chauncerie, of his good beryng. c 1500 in Arnolde Chron. (1811) 89 Vpon payne of forfeytour of his requynesaunce to bee payd..to y⊇ chambre of London. 1561 J. Daus tr. Bullinger on Apoc. (1573) 193 b, They..do binde them selues to the Pope and Sea of Rome, as it were by recognisance. 1602 W. Fulbecke 2nd Pt. Parall. 65 If the defendant did make a reconusance vpon statute marchant such a daie at Canterburie to the plaintife. 1660 Trial Regic. 35 And all those bound by Recognizance to appear, let them come forth, and give their Evidence, or else to forfeit their Recognizance. 1749 Fielding Tom Jones viii. xi, He committed him to prison, and bound Frank in a recognizance, I think they call it. 1792 Burke On Negro Code Wks. IX. 296 The said Trader or Factor shall be deemed to have forfeited his recognizance. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. v. I. 521 Three of the peers who were thus under recognisances were Roman Catholics. |
| transf. 1609 J. Davies Holy Roode Wks. (Grosart) 13 Then, by Recognizance Wee'l aye be bound to praise Thee, for our parts. 1696 Southerne Oroonoko iv. ii, An oath is a recognisance to Heav'n, Binding us over in the courts above To plead to the indictment of our crimes. |
2. Recognition or acknowledgement (of a person as holding a certain position, of a fact, duty, right, service, etc.). Now
rare.
| 14.. in Tundale's Vis. (1843) 110 They broght hym gold..And gaff hym..Hooly of al her hart for a reconysaunce. a 1450 Knt. de la Tour (1868) 5 Eueri tyme he awakithe, he ought to yeve God reconisaunce,..that he is his lorde, creatour, and maker. 1538 Starkey England ii. iii. 199 And so for the recognysance of thys superyoryte, I wold that our reame schold pay thys Peter pens. 1593 G. Harvey Pierce's Super. iii. 109 Some-body oweth the three-shapen Geryon a greater duty, in recognisance of his often-promised curtesies. 1659 H. L'Estrange Alliance Div. Off. 212 The Antient form of thanksgiving, that by which special recognisance was made to God as the Creator. 1685 Lond. Gaz. No. 2009/3 In recognisance of your just Right and Title. 1787 A. Seward Lett. (1811) I. 269 His even affectionate recognizance of our youthful acquaintance. 1791 T. Newte Tour Eng. & Scot. 132 A recognizance of the prescriptive rights of the antient tacksmen. 1830 Herschel Stud. Nat. Phil. 303 The recognisance of the important distinctions which appear to divide these great classes of bodies from each other. 1845 A. Duncan Disc. 175 Let us endeavour to honour it by a dutiful recognizance..of his goodness. |
b. Recognition (of a person) as the same, or as having a known character. Now
rare.
| c 1489 Caxton Blanchardyn 149 After their teeris and pytuable reconyssaunce were past..they taryed the space of a moneth wyth in the cyte. 1575–85 Abp. Sandys Serm. (Parker Soc.) 68 Some such badge of recognisance. 1597 Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. xlii. §10 They chose it to serve as their special mark of recognizance, and gave it secretly..a sinister construction. 1801 tr. Gabrielli's Myst. Husb. I. 164 Having waved his helmet in token of recognizance, he endeavoured by signs to convince them how much he regretted their absence. 1831 Fraser's Mag. III. 53 From known faces she stole away, to avoid recognizance. |
3. A token, badge, emblem; a cognizance. Now only
arch.| c 1477 Caxton Jason 57 b, Fyfty thousand women..garnisshed with pennons and recognysaunces. 1563 Foxe A. & M. 30/2 A girdle..hauyng vii. keies, wyth vii. seales hanging there vpon, for a recognisance or token, of his seuenfold power. 1604 Shakes. Oth. v. ii. 214 That Recognizance and pledge of Loue Which I first gaue her. 1890 æ. Prince Of Joyous Gard iv. 724 His choicest troop of barons, harnessed black, With black recognisances. |
† 4. a. Cognizance: (
a) knowledge; (
b) notice.
| c 1450 Lydg. Secrees 235 Ther of to have Cleer entendement, And of scryptures Just Reconysaunce. 1716 M. Davies Athen. Brit. II. 245 As for his being the Son, either Begotten or Unbegotten, the Sabellian Hypothesis took no Recognizance of. |
† b. Law.
= recognition 2 b.
Obs.| 1607 Cowell Interpr. s.v., If any man be attainted of disseisin..by Recognisance of Assize of nouel disseisin, the iudgement shall etc. 1706 in Phillips. 1727–41 Chambers Cycl., Recognizance is also used, in our antient statutes for the verdict of the twelve jurors impanelled upon an assize. |
Hence
† reˈcognizance v., to recognize.
Obs.—1| 1657 Heylin Ecclesia Vind. 11 The submission of the Clergy, to the said King Henry, whom they had recognizanced for their supream Head. |