- Today's Word
Cognizant
[ kog-nuh-zuhnt ]
Definition
“Cognizant” is an adjective that means being aware of or having knowledge about something. It describes a state of being informed or conscious of a particular fact, situation, or issue.
Example
She was cognizant of the potential risks involved in the project. In this sentence, “cognizant” is used to indicate that she was fully aware of the possible dangers associated with the project.
Fun Fact
The word “Cognizant” has an interesting etymology. It is derived from the Latin word “cognoscere,” which means “to get to know” or “to become aware of.” The word has evolved over time to its current usage in English.
(noun) A person who takes excessive pleasure in eating and drinking, often to the point of overindulgence.
The restaurant critic was a gourmand in the truest sense — not merely knowledgeable about food but physically incapable of leaving anything on the plate.
Gourmand comes from the Old French gourmant, meaning “glutton” or “one who eats greedily,” of uncertain further origin. It entered English in the 15th century carrying its French sense of someone defined by appetite rather than discernment. The word is frequently confused with gourmet — a person of refined culinary taste — but the distinction is meaningful: a gourmet selects carefully and savors deliberately, while a gourmand simply wants more. One is defined by quality, the other by quantity.