recognizance Hear it!

recognizance Definition

re·cog·ni·zance (ri käg′ni zəns, -kän′i-)

noun

  1. Law
    1. an obligation of record entered into before a court or magistrate, binding a person to do or not do something, be in court at a certain time, etc.
    2. a sum of money pledged and subject to forfeit if this obligation is not fulfilled
  2. Archaic recognition
  3. Obsolete a symbol, token, or badge

Etymology: ME reconissance < OFr reconaissance < reconnoisant, prp. of reconoistre < L recognoscere, to recall to mind < re-, again + cognoscere, to know: see cognition

recognizance Law Definition

n

A bond made to a court, and recorded, of an obligation to do something, which if the person so bound fails to do will require the payment of a preset sum of money. Most often, a recognizance is in the form of a bail bond that guarantees an unimprisoned criminal defendant’s appearance for trial. See also bail, bond, and release on own recognizance.

recognizance Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • forfeit: Enforcement of fines imposed and recognizances forfeited by Crown Court.
  • take: Bultmann took recognizance of statements that were indeed attributed to the Risen Jesus ( 1 Thess.

Adjective modifier

own: The magistrate bound them all over to enter into their own recognizances to keep the peace for six months.