cognizance
noun
[ ˈkɒ(ɡ)nɪz(ə)ns ]
• knowledge or awareness.
• "the Renaissance cognizance of Greece was limited"
• a distinctive emblem or badge formerly worn by retainers of a noble house.
Origin:
Middle English conisance, from Old French conoisance, based on Latin cognoscere ‘get to know’. The spelling with g, influenced by Latin, arose in the 15th century and gradually affected the pronunciation.
take cognizance of
• attend to; take account of.
• "the new structure attempted to take cognizance of individual regions' needs"
