Knowledge or understanding of something; an archaic or rare term for acquaintance or recognition.
From Old French 'connoissance,' derived from 'connoistre' (to know), which comes from Latin 'cognoscere' (to know or become acquainted with), the same root as 'cognition' and 'recognize'.
This fancy French word almost disappeared from English, replaced by 'knowledge' and 'acquaintance,' but it survived in heraldry where it specifically means a distinguishing mark on a coat of arms that shows family recognition.
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