a. [f. COGNIZE (or rather originally from stem of COGNIZ-ANCE) + -ABLE. Since cognize has become a familiar word, there is a tendency in sense 1 to pronounce (kǫgnəi·zăb’l); cf. recognize, recognizable.]
1. Capable of being known, perceived or apprehended by the senses or intellect; perceptible.
1678. R. L’Estrange, Seneca’s Mor. (1702), 95. Their Injuries may be cognizable, but not their Benefits.
1777. Cockin, Mist, in Phil. Trans., LXX. 160, note. The vapours are said to be of a tenuity cognizable by the sight.
1816. J. Smith, Panorama Sci. & Art, II. 187. That … is not cognizable by our senses.
1836–7. Sir W. Hamilton, Metaph., xxxix. (1859), II. 392. Admitting that causation were cognisable, and that perception and self-consciousness were competent to its apprehension.
1851. D. Wilson, Preh. Ann. (1863), I. v. 141. A period dimly cognisable in the remotest past.
b. Capable of being recognized, recognizable.
1751. Smollett, Per. Pic. (1779), IV. c. 301. His features were scarce cognizable.
1797. Holcroft, Stolberg’s Trav. (ed. 2), II. li. 242. Aesop … is cognizable, by his deformity.
1829. Marryat, F. Mildmay, vi. We exchanged clothes, in such a manner as to render us no longer cognizable.
1854. J. Kennedy, Swallow B. (1860), 18. Without one cognizable face before me.
2. Capable of being, or liable to be, judicially examined or tried; within the jurisdiction of a court of law or the like.
1681. Hickeringill, Vind. Naked Truth, II. 18. All matters cognisable in Spiritual Courts.
1690. Penn. Archives, I. 110. We … find the major part of the writing not cognizable by us, or within our province.
1768. Blackstone, Comm., III. 25. These courts can hold no plea of matters cognizable by the common law.
1875. Stubbs, Const. Hist., I. xii. 484. Every sort of plea that was cognisable under royal writ.
1876. Bancroft, Hist. U.S., III. xi. 444. Making all offences against it cognizable in the courts of admiralty.
b. spec. in Anglo-Indian law: see quots.
1882. Code Crim. Procedure, § 4. ‘Cognisable offence’ means any offence for, and ‘cognisable case’ means a case in, which a police-officer … may … arrest without warrant.
1883. J. F. Stephen, Hist. Crim. Law, III. 331. The offences [in the Indian Code of Crim. Proc.] called by the somewhat ill-chosen name of cognizable offences.
Hence Cognizableness.
1871. W. G. Ward, Ess. (1884), I. 68. The intuitive cognizableness of such a proposition.
1875. Contemp. Rev., XXV. 528. He who denies the cognizableness of necessary truth.
