I. In gen., a becoming acquainted with, learning to know, acquiring knowledge, knowledge as a consequence of perception or of the exercise of our mental powers, knowing, acquaintance, cognition (in good prose; esp. freq. in Cic. and Quint.).
A. Abstr.: “cognitio contemplatioque naturae,” Cic. Off. 1, 43, 153: “rerum occultarum,” id. ib. 1, 4, 13: “rerum,” id. Fin. 3, 5, 17: “animi,” id. Tusc. 1, 29, 71: “deorum,” id. N. D. 2, 56, 140: “urbis,” id. Imp. Pomp. 14, 40: “in studiis sententiae cognitionisque versabitur,” id. Off. 1, 6, 19; cf. id. ib. 1, 44, 158; id. Fin. 5, 12, 34: “illi, quorum studia vitaque omnis in rerum cognitione versata est,” id. Off. 1, 44, 155; cf. id. ib. § “157: quorum ego copiam magnitudinem cognitionis atque artis non contemno,” culture, id. de Or. 1, 51, 219; Quint. 1, 10, 10; 12, 11, 17 al.: “omnia, quae cognitione digna sunt,” Cic. Off. 1, 43, 153; 2, 2, 5: “cognitione atque hospitio dignus,” id. Arch. 3, 5; id. Fin. 3, 11, 37; cf. Quint. 10, 1, 90: “cognitio et aestimatio rerum,” id. 2, 18, 1; 4, 2, 40.—
B. Concr.
1. ( = notio, κατάληψις.) A conception, notion, idea: “intellegi necesse est esse deos, quoniam insitas eorum vel potius innatas cognitiones habemus,” Cic. N. D. 1, 17, 44; 1, 14, 36; id. Fin. 2, 5, 16 Madv.; 3, 5, 17.—
2. Knowledge, a branch of learning (late Lat.): “studiosus cognitionum omnium princeps,” Amm. 21, 1, 7: 25, 4, 7.—
II. Specif., a legal t. t., a judicial examination, inquiry, cognizance, trial (very freq.): “ne quod judicium, neve ipsius cognitio illo absente de existimatione ejus constitueretur,” Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 25, § 60: “lex earum rerum consulibus cognitionem dedit,” id. Att. 16, 16, C, 11; cf. id. ib. § “12: captorum agrorum,” id. Agr. 2, 22, 60; so, “principum et senatūs,” Quint. 3, 10, 1; 7, 2, 20: “patrum,” Tac. A. 1, 75: “magistratuum,” Suet. Claud. 12: “praetoria,” Quint. 3, 6, 70: “rerum capitalium,” Liv. 1, 49, 4: “falsi testamenti,” Suet. Claud. 9: “caedis,” id. Rhet. 6: “vacantium militiae munere,” Liv. 4, 26, 12: “de Christianis,” Plin. Ep. 10, 97: “de famosis libellis,” Tac. A. 1, 72: “de ejusmodi criminibus ac reis,” Suet. Tib. 28: “de Votieno Montano,” Tac. A. 4, 42: “inter patrem et filium,” Liv. 1, 50, 9: “dies cognitionis,” the day of trial, Cic. Brut. 32, 87.—
III. In Terence twice for agnitio, recognition, discovery (cf. cognosco), Ter. Hec. 5, 3, 33; id. Eun. 5, 3, 12.
