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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Recognitio(u)n(e, -cio(u)n(e, n. Also: -toun, -coun, -cone, recogniscioun, -cougnytioun, -conggnitioun. [L. recognitiōn- n. f. recognōscere Recognosce v., F. récognition (15th c.), e.m.E. recogni(s)cyon, -tion, -cion (16th c.).]

1. The resumption by a feudal superior of lands, also fishings, etc., in consequence of a vassal's failure to observe the conditions of his tenure, as by unwarranted alienation. b. An instance of this. c. pl., ? sometimes in sing. sense.(1) 1473 Treas. Acc. I 47.
With lettres vndir the priue sele for the recognicione of the Bischop of Sanctandros temporalite 1473 Acta Aud. 27/2.
The said landis salbe lattin to borgh … & the said recognicion to be lousit 1491 Acta Conc. I 184/2.
That the said erle vex nothir of the saidis partiis in ther possessioun quhill that he do to the said recogniscioun that efferis apon law 1498 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 79.
Ane sergeande … to pas and se the sade Schir Andro ras vp erde and stane of ane lande … for falt of payment of the grvnd annuall as maner of recognicioune is 1511 Reg. Privy S. I 346/1.
The lousing of the recognitioun of the landis … becaus thai war haldin blanchferme 1516 Ib. 430/2.
Recognitoun 1523 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 173.
Undir the pane of recognicioun of thar temporalitie that thai hald of the king c1532 Stirlings of Keir 339.
Recougnytioun 1540–1 Reg. Privy S. II 579/2.
The quhilk alienatioun … sal be na caus of recognitioun, eschete nor forfaltour of the saidis landis 1543 Rep. Boyle Mun. 5.
The forsaidis landis … hes bene in the handis of ws … as superiouris and ourlordis of the samyn be ressoune of nonentre, recognitioune or vthirwais c1575 Balfour Pract. 418.
Actiounis of recognitioun [etc.] … sould be decidit … befoir the King's Justice Ib. 482.
Anent recognitioun of landis in the superiour's handis 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Recognition.
Recognition of landes is commonly vsed in the law and practicque of this realme Id. Reg. Maj. ii 52. c1610 Id. in Misc. Stair Soc. I 152.
Landis whilkis fallis to the king be ressoune of bastardrie, recognition, or as ultimus heres 1669 M. P. Brown Suppl. Decis. II 442.
An act … whereby vassals of wardlands were permitted to subinfeudate their wardlands, without the superior's consent, and yet not incur recognition(2) 1474 Acta Aud. 32/1.
He askit a day to profe that the landis war vnder recognicion the tyme of the sesing gifing 1478 Ib. 71/2.
The saide landis war vnder the kingis recognitioune 1515 Justiciary Rec. III 373.
The landis of Crauchlew under recognition obefor(3) 1481 Acta Aud. 95/1.
To prufe that he was stoppit & lettit be our souerane lordis lettrez of recognition 1512 Treas. Acc. IV 345.
Lettrez of recognitioun and summondis one William Berclay 1611 Scrymgeour Invent. 9.
Instrument of recognitioun of the half Maynes of Ballegerno in the Lord Dirletonis handis as superiour(4) 1508 Reg. Privy S. I 249/1.
Gife the landis … beys fundin and decernit to pertene to the kingis hienes be recognitioun or uthirways 1519 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 288.
Quhilk land … the … dene James be lauchful proces of recognicione was accummyne to the propirte thar of … be the presenting of erd and stane of the said grund 1681 Stair Inst. ii xi §5.
When the fee returns to the superior either for a time by ward, non-entry etc. or for ever by recognitionb. (a) 1496 Acta Conc. II 16.
Ane recognicione of half ane nettis fisching Ib. 28.
The kingis hienes to mak his recognicione apone the sade fisching … , nocht lattand the sammyn to both [? for borch] bot to the last possessour 1534 Liber Coll. Glasg. 261.
Ane recognitione maid apon the said waist tenement(b) a1538 Abell 112b.
Be prewat consall he maid a reconggnitioun of his baronis landisc. a1586 Maitland Ho. Seytoun 25.
In the tyme of King James the Ferd, thair wes ane proces led aganis the barounis callit recognitionis 1570 Leslie 73.
Certane of his [sc. the king's] counsall inventit moyennis and wayis to conqueis landis and silver unto him be the way of recognitiones, as they did call it 1578 Reg. Privy C. II 693.
All recognicionis, dispositionis of landis falling be forfaltour or last air 1610 Bk. Dunvegan 79. 1614 Stewart Mem. 126.
Omnes et singulas predictas terras … cum omnibus … lie … eschaete forisfacture recognitionis purpresture disclamationis 1622-6 Bisset I 127/17.
Summonis for payment of dettis, recognitionis [etc.] 1669 Burnett Fam. P.
Frie from all … forfaltis, recognitiones [etc.]

d. transf. The instrument(s) of resumption; letters of recognition. = (3) above. 1502–3 Treas. Acc. II 356.
To Johne Coupar, messingeir, passand with the recognicioun of Strabrok 1504–5 Ib. III 127.
To Richard Wallas, messengeir, with the recognicionis of Glencuthil and ane summondis on the Erle of Buquhan for the landis of Queich 1505–6 Ib. 187.
To ane messingeir passand with the lettrez of panis on the lard of Thorntoun and with recognitionis 1507 Ib. 335.
To Johne Beg, messingeir, passand with the kingis lettrez within the schirefdomes of Roxburgh, Lawedir [etc.] … with recognitions Ib. 409.

2. An inquiry or investigation by a jury; an inquest.(1) 14.. Reg. Maj. c. 126.
Of recognicone of rycht law & sesing to be maide Ib.
Mutis of rycht … for the mar part war wont to pas be recognicounis Ib. c. 128.
It [sc. an assise] sal procede with recognicione bath the partis beand present be the athe of xii lauchfull mene suerand Ib. c. 130.
& apone he may ask recognicone & optene 14.. Acts I 357/2.
It [sc. a dispute over possession of land] sal proced to recognicion 1454–5 Soc. Ant. Chart. No. 7.
To ger the said twa brevis be red in court & to procede to the recognitione of ane assise 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i 57b.
It rests that we speik of divers recognitions. 3. Some recognition is called of mortancestrie, 4. Some of last presentation of ane persone to ane kirk [etc.] … , 7. Some, quhither ane man is of perfite age [etc.] Ib. 61.
This controversie … sall be declared be the recognition of aucht loyall men 1632 Acts V 243/1.
These that ar sworne vpon assysis, attantis, recognitiouns or inquisitiouns 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. ii vi 5 (1678) 381.
The Council likewise sometimes inflict punishments without recognition, by way of citation(2) 14.. Reg. Maj. c. 3.
The breff of recognicioune of mortancestris & of new dissessyng 14.. Acts I 112/2.
Befor thir tymes the breif of recognicion lay nocht bot apon the ded of sax personis 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Breve.