recognizance

American  

[ri-kog-nuh-zuhns, -kon-uh-] / rɪˈkɒg nə zəns, -ˈkɒn ə- /

noun

1. Law.

   1. a bond or obligation of record entered into before a court of record or a magistrate, binding a person to do a particular act.

   2. the sum pledged as surety on such a bond.

2. Archaic. recognition.

3. Archaic. a token; badge.

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recognizance British  

/ rɪˈkɒɡnɪzəns /

noun

1. law

   1. a bond entered into before a court or magistrate by which a person binds himself to do a specified act, as to appear in court on a stated day, keep the peace, or pay a debt

   2. a monetary sum pledged to the performance of such an act

2. an obsolete word for recognition

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Other Word Forms

• recognizant
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of recognizance

1350–1400; Middle English reconissaunce, recognisance < Old French reconuissance. See recognize, -ance

Explanation

The noun recognizance, which means an agreement you make with a court of law to show up when you're told to, is seen most often in the phrase "released on his own recognizance." Of four look-alikes in English — recognizance plus recognition, reconnaissance, and reconnoiter — recognizance has perhaps the narrowest meaning: an obligation requiring you to do something (usually, appear in court). The word has been kicking around for a while: the OED finds a form of it in Chaucer, and its root is the Old French reconnaistre, or recognize.

Related Words

• agreement
• assurance
• certificate
• collateral
• contract
• deposit
• insurance
• security
• warranty