cognĭtĭo, ōnis, f. [cognosco].
I In gen., a becoming acquainted with , learning to know , acquiring knowledge , knowledge as a consequence of perception or of the exercise of our mental powers, knowing , acquaintance , cognition (in good prose; esp. freq. in Cic. and Quint.).
A Abstr.: cognitio contemplatioque naturae, Cic. Off. 1, 43, 153: rerum occultarum, id. ib. 1, 4, 13: rerum, id. Fin. 3, 5, 17: animi, id. Tusc. 1, 29, 71: deorum, id. N. D. 2, 56, 140: urbis, id. Imp. Pomp. 14, 40: in studiis sententiae cognitionisque versabitur, id. Off. 1, 6, 19; cf. id. ib. 1, 44, 158; id. Fin. 5, 12, 34: illi, quorum studia vitaque omnis in rerum cognitione versata est, id. Off. 1, 44, 155; cf. id. ib. § 157: quorum ego copiam magnitudinem cognitionis atque artis non contemno, culture , id. de Or. 1, 51, 219; Quint. 1, 10, 10; 12, 11, 17 al.: omnia, quae cognitione digna sunt, Cic. Off. 1, 43, 153; 2, 2, 5: cognitione atque hospitio dignus, id. Arch. 3, 5; id. Fin. 3, 11, 37; cf. Quint. 10, 1, 90: cognitio et aestimatio rerum, id. 2, 18, 1; 4, 2, 40.—
B Concr.
1 ( = notio, κατάληψις.) A conception , notion , idea : intellegi necesse est esse deos, quoniam insitas eorum vel potius innatas cognitiones habemus, Cic. N. D. 1, 17, 44; 1, 14, 36; id. Fin. 2, 5, 16 Madv.; 3, 5, 17.—
2 Knowledge , a branch of learning (late Lat.): studiosus cognitionum omnium princeps, Amm. 21, 1, 7: 25, 4, 7.—
II Specif., a legal t. t., a judicial examination , inquiry , cognizance , trial (very freq.): ne quod judicium, neve ipsius cognitio illo absente de existimatione ejus constitueretur, Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 25, § 60: lex earum rerum consulibus cognitionem dedit, id. Att. 16, 16, C, 11; cf. id. ib. § 12: captorum agrorum, id. Agr. 2, 22, 60; so, principum et senatūs, Quint. 3, 10, 1; 7, 2, 20: patrum, Tac. A. 1, 75: magistratuum, Suet. Claud. 12: praetoria, Quint. 3, 6, 70: rerum capitalium, Liv. 1, 49, 4: falsi testamenti, Suet. Claud. 9: caedis, id. Rhet. 6: vacantium militiae munere, Liv. 4, 26, 12: de Christianis, Plin. Ep. 10, 97: de famosis libellis, Tac. A. 1, 72: de ejusmodi criminibus ac reis, Suet. Tib. 28: de Votieno Montano, Tac. A. 4, 42: inter patrem et filium, Liv. 1, 50, 9: dies cognitionis, the day of trial , Cic. Brut. 32, 87.—
III In Terence twice for agnitio, recognition , discovery (cf. cognosco), Ter. Hec. 831; id. Eun. 921.