- 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) The state of having a damaged or lost reputation; being held in low regard by others or by the public.
The firm’s disrepute spread faster than any press release could contain — three clients left before the week was out.
Disrepute combines the prefix dis- meaning “away” or “reversal” with repute, from the Latin reputare — “to reckon” or “to think over” — built from re- (“again”) and putare (“to think” or “to reckon”). Repute entered English in the 15th century meaning the general opinion held of someone; disrepute followed as its logical opposite, describing the condition of having that opinion turn decisively negative.