First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
recognizance
noun re·cog·ni·zance \ri-ˈkäg-nə-zən(t)s, -ˈkä-nə-\
law : a legal promise made by someone before a court of law that must be kept to avoid being punished
Full Definition of RECOGNIZANCE
1
a : an obligation of record entered into before a court or magistrate requiring the performance of an act (as appearance in court) usually under penalty of a money forfeiture <released on his own recognizance> b : the sum liable to forfeiture upon such an obligation
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Origin of RECOGNIZANCE
Middle English recognissance, alteration of reconissaunce, from Anglo-French, from reconoistre to recognize
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