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cognoscenti

[kon-yuh-shen-tee, kog-nuh-]
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plural noun, singular co·gno·scen·te [kon-yuh-tee, kog-nuh-] /ˌkɒn yə ti, ˌkɒg nə-/.
  1. persons who have superior knowledge and understanding of a particular field, especially in the fine arts, literature, and world of fashion.
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Also conoscenti.

Origin of cognoscenti

1770–80; < Italian, Latinized variant of conoscente (present participle of conoscere to know) < L. See cognition, -ent
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for cognoscente

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • Saint Thomas says, Omnes cognitio fit secundum similitudinem cogniti in cognoscente.

  • Upon asking how he had been taught the art of a cognoscente so suddenly, he assured me that nothing was more easy.

    An English Grammar

    W. M. Baskervill and J. W. Sewell

British Dictionary definitions for cognoscente

cognoscenti

conoscenti

pl n singular -te (-tiː)
  1. (sometimes singular) people with informed appreciation of a particular field, esp in the fine arts; connoisseurs
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Word Origin

C18: from obsolete Italian (modern conoscente), from Latin cognōscere to know, learn about
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for cognoscente

n.

"connoisseur," 1778, from Italian cognoscente, Latinized from conoscente "connoisseur," literally "knowing man," from Latin cognoscentum (nominative cognoscens), present participle of cognoscere "to know" (see cognizance).

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cognoscenti

n.

plural of cognoscente (q.v.).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper