recognizance means A form of bail; a promise made by the accused to the court that they will attend all required judicial proceedings and will not engage in further illegal activity or other prohibited conduct as set by the court. It carries an Arena rating of 1604, earned across 3 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, recognizance ranks #2,767 of 17,143 for Best Fossil-Poetry Words, #2,817 of 17,104 for Most Storied Words, #3,156 of 17,128 for Most Ponderous Words, #3,304 of 17,126 for Most Satisfying to Say.
Why “recognizance” is a great word
A formal, legally binding promise made to a court to fulfill specific conditions, such as appearing for trial, on the strength of one's personal pledge alone. From Middle English *reconisaunce*, from Old French *reconissance* ("acknowledgment, recognition"), itself from *reconoistre* ("to recognize"). Doublet of *reconnaissance*. Unlike *bail*, which posts money or property as security, or a general *pledge* of commitment, recognizance is the law binding you to yourself. It is the weight of your spoken word in a silent chamber, the invisible tether that holds you to a date certain, the austere contract signed with nothing but your name—a solemn recognition that one's future is now held in trust by one's own honor.
Etymology
From Middle English reconisaunce, from Old French reconissance. Doublet of reconnaissance.
noun
- A form of bail; a promise made by the accused to the court that they will attend all required judicial proceedings and will not engage in further illegal activity or other prohibited conduct as set by the court.e.g.“The defendant was released on his own recognizance.”
- A token; a symbol; a pledge.e.g.“That recognizance and pledge of love / Which I first gave her.” — c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iagg
- An acknowledgment of a person or thing; an avowal; a profession; a recognition.
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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