1. Law.
   1. An obligation of record that is entered into before a court or magistrate, containing a condition to perform a particular act, such as making a court appearance.
   2. A sum of money pledged to assure the performance of such an act.
2. A recognition.
3. Archaic. A pledge; a token.

[Middle English recognisanze, from Old French recognuissance, alteration (influenced by Medieval Latin recognizāre, to recognize) of reconoissance, from reconoistre, reconoiss-, to recognize. See recognize.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.