Learn English – the verb for “cognition”

verbs

Going by known pairs of nouns and verbs, it would be "cognite", but is it valid? If not, what's the right word?

Update: I know cognise or cognize, but it doesn't cover the full meaning of "cognition" as it's used now. E.g., AHD has "The mental process or faculty of knowing, including aspects such as awareness, perception, reasoning, and judgment." Consider the usage in "Cognitive-Behavorial Therapy". It's far more than just the meaning of "know".

Furthermore, cognize is the verb for cognizance, not cognition.

Best Answer

The word cognize (cognise) does exist, but according to the OED etymology it seems a relatively recent word backformed from cognisant, cognition etc. and from the earlier recognise. The relevant entry is:

Etymology: A comparatively modern word, formed with reference to cognizance , cognizor , and the kindred words, and the earlier recognize . It thus corresponds analogically, but not phonetically, to Latin cognōscere , Old French conoistre , French connaître : compare cognosce v. The prevalence of the ending -ize over -ise is apparently due to the influence of the large class of verbs having etymological -ize suffix.

†1. Law. (intr. or absol.) To take cognizance. 1659 T. Burton Diary (1828) III. 129 The Judges..sit at Westminster, and they cognize.

  1. trans. To take cognizance of, take note of, notice, observe. 1821 Joseph the Book-man 107 [He] was cogniz'd by every eye.

1889 J. M. Robertson Ess. Crit. Method 72 Moved to incipient hysteria where anon I should simply cognize pathos.

  1. Philosophy. To know, perceive, become conscious of; to make (anything) an object of cognition.

a1856 W. Hamilton Lect. Metaphysics (1859) II. xxi. 19 It would also be convenient..for psychological precision and emphasis, to use the word to cognise in connection with its noun cognition.

a1856 W. Hamilton Lect. Metaphysics (1859) II. xxxvi. 329 They first know,—they first cognise, the things and persons presented to them.

1862 H. Spencer First Princ. i. iv. §24. 80 It is a material object, and it is cognized by being recognized as such.

1876 St. G. Mivart Lessons from Nature vii. 196 We cognize an object..by one act; we cognize that cognition by a very different act.

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