A legal promise or bond that someone will appear in court or follow certain conditions, often used instead of bail.
From Old French 'recognissance,' meaning acknowledgment or recognition, from Latin 'recognoscere' (to recognize again). Used in law to mean a binding acknowledgment.
Recognizance lets judges release defendants without bail if they promise to show up—it's based on trust and recognition of the person, which is why it has 'recognize' in the word!
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