An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

1. The mental process of knowing, including → awareness, → perception, → reasoning, and judgment.
   

2. The product of such a process; something thus known, perceived, etc. (Dictionary.com).

Etymology (EN): M.E. cognicioun; L. cognitionem (nominative cognitio, from cognitus p.p. of cognoscere, from → co-

• gnoscere, noscere “to learn;” cognate with Pers. šenâs, šenâxt, as below.

Etymology (PE): Šenâxtâr, verbal noun of šenâxtan “to know, recognize,” dânestan “to know;” O.Pers./Av. xšnā- “to know, learn, come to know, recognize;”
cf. Skt. jñā- “to recognize, know,” jānāti “he knows;” Gk. gignoskein “to know, think, judge;” L. gnoscere, noscere “to come to know” (Fr. connaître; Sp. conocer); O.E. cnawan; E. know; Rus. znat “to know;” PIE base *gno- “to know.”