recognizance

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. 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.
  2. A token; a symbol; a pledge.
  3. Acknowledgment of a person or thing; avowal; profession; recognition.

Word forms

recognizance recognizances

Etymology

From Middle English reconisaunce, from Old French reconissance. Doublet of reconnaissance.

Related words

This entry uses open data from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA/GFDL). Word forms are used for search and are not indexed as separate pages.