n.
Pronunciation: ri- ' käg-n ə -z ə n(t)s, - ' kä-n ə -
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English recognissance, alteration of reconissaunce, from Anglo-French, from reconoistre to recognize
Date: 14th century
1 a : an obligation of record entered into before a court or magistrate requiring the performance of an act (as appearance in court) usually under penalty of a money forfeiture <released on his own recognizance > b : the sum liable to forfeiture upon such an obligation
2 archaic : TOKEN , PLEDGE