recognize

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
recognize /ˈrekəɡnʌɪz/ (or recognise)

▶verb

• 1 identify as already known; know again.

  ■ (of a computer or other device) identify and respond correctly to (a sound, character, etc.).

• 2 acknowledge the existence, validity, or legality of.

  ■ formally acknowledge that (a country or government) is eligible to be dealt with as a member of the international community.

• 3 reward formally.

• 4 (of a person chairing a meeting or debate) call on (someone) to speak.

– derivatives
recognizability noun,
recognizable adjective,
recognizably adverb,
recognizer noun.

– origin ME: from OFr. reconniss-, reconnaistre, from L. recognoscere ‘know again, recall to mind’, from re- ‘again’ + cognoscere ‘learn’.