The root word ‘cogn’ comes from the Latin word ‘cognoscere’, which means ‘to know’ or ‘to learn’. This root is found in many English words that relate to knowledge, understanding, or recognition.
For example:
- Cognition refers to the mental process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses.
- Recognize means to identify someone or something from previous encounters or knowledge.
- Cognitive relates to the process of knowing, including aspects like awareness, perception, reasoning, and judgment.
Understanding the root ‘cogn’ can help you decipher the meanings of many words in the English language that are related to knowledge and learning.