Recognizance

Pronunciation: /ˈrɛkəɡˌnɪzəns/

Definitions of recognizance

noun a bond or obligation entered into before a court or magistrate, binding a person to do a particular act

Example Sentences

A1 I had to sign a paper promising to appear in court, it's called a recognizance.

A2 The judge released him on his own recognizance until the trial.

B1 She was released on her own recognizance but with certain conditions.

B2 The recognizance bond was set at $10,000 for his release.

C1 The defendant was granted release on his own recognizance due to lack of prior convictions.

C2 The recognizance was revoked after the defendant failed to comply with the conditions.

Examples of recognizance in a Sentence

formal The judge released the defendant on his own recognizance.

informal The cop let me go on my own recognizance.

slang I got out of jail on my own recog.

figurative She kept her promises out of a sense of moral recognizance.

Grammatical Forms of recognizance

• past tense: recognized
• plural: recognizances
• comparative: more recognizable
• superlative: most recognizable
• present tense: recognize
• future tense: will recognize
• perfect tense: have recognized
• continuous tense: is recognizing
• singular: recognizance
• positive degree: recognizable
• infinitive: to recognize
• gerund: recognizing
• participle: recognized

Origin and Evolution of recognizance

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Middle English, Old French

Story behind the word: The word 'recognizance' originated from Middle English, from Old French reconoissance, from reconoistre (to recognize).

Evolution of the word: Originally used in legal contexts to refer to an obligation entered into before a court or magistrate; over time, the word has come to also mean a formal acknowledgement of a debt or obligation.