rĕ-cognosco, gnōvi, gnĭtum, 3, v. a.
I To know again , recollect , recall to mind , recognize , i. q. recordor (class.; esp. freq. in Cic.): se non tum illa discere, sed reminiscendo recognoscere, Cic. Tusc. 1, 24, 57 (just before, recordari); cf. id. Verr. 2, 1, 12, § 32: fugam et furtum, id. ib. 2, 2, 6, § 18: ea, quae scit, mecum recognoscere, id. ib. 1, 5, 15; cf. id. Cat. 1, 3, 6: noctem illam superiorem mecum recognosce, id. ib. 1, 4, 8; Liv. 44, 38: cum te penitus recognovi, timere desino, Cic. Deiot. 2, 4; cf.: personas quasdam, id. Mil. 6, 6: in quibus (litteris) mirificum tuum erga me amorem recognovi, Cass. ap. Cic. Fam. 12, 12, 1; so, res (suas), Liv. 5, 16: spatia certaminum, Tac. H. 2, 70: dona templorum, id. Agr. 6: cuncta loca, Ov. M. 11, 62: sacra eruta annalibus, id. F. 1, 7; cf.: ille se imperatorem cognosceret, feel himself , Capitol. Gord. 30. —
II To look over , review , investigate , examine , inspect , i. q. recenseo (so most freq. since the Aug. per.): quoniam non recognoscimus nunc leges populi Romani sed aut repetimus ereptas aut novas scribimus, Cic. Leg. 3, 16, 37: socios navales, Liv. 42, 31; cf. Front. Strat. 4, 6, 3: peregrinos, Just. 43, 4, 11: equitum turmas, Suet. Aug. 37; 38; id. Tib. 61; Just. 43, 4, 11: agros, Liv. 42, 8, 9: ergastula, Suet. Aug. 32: supellectilem Darei et omnem pecuniam, Curt. 5, 1, 23: mancipia ergastuli, Col. 1, 8, 16: instrumentum rusticum, id. 11, 1, 20: numerum (gregis, militum), id. 8, 11, 2; Just. 3, 1, 7: praedam, id. 11, 14, 8: sigillum, Ap. Met. 10, 9, 19.— Poet.: (Caesar triumphans) Dona recognoscit populorum, surveys , * Verg. A. 8, 721. —
B In partic., to examine a writing in respect to its genuineness and value; to certify , authenticate : tabulas in foro summā hominum frequentiā exscribo ... Haec omnia summā curā et diligentiā recognita et collata et ab hominibus honestissimis obsignata sunt, Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 77, § 190; cf.: decretum Pompeii, id. Balb. 5, 11: codicem, id. Vatin. 2, 5: descriptum et recognitum, Dig. 10, 2, 5; Inscr. Grut. 214; 573: libellos recognoscere et emendare, to revise and correct , Plin. Ep. 4, 26, 1.