Dictionary

incognition en · NOUN

Etymology

From in- + cognition.

Meanings

1. A condition of unknowingness; an act of unknowing.
   • Fear paralyzes the minds of the Welsh Fusiliers: "fear steadies to dumb incognition, so that when they give the order to move upward to align with "A" hugged already just under the lip of the acclivity 1984, J. A. Mirus (publisher), Faith & Reason - Volume 10, page 197:
   • Hobbes noted that transition is essential incognition. 1927, Krause Reprint Limited, Proceedings, page 251:
   • Those circumstances may help us understand what was negative-the incognition, the indifference, and the neglect-in Australian attitudes and conduct over a full century. 2014, William S. Livingston, Wm. Roger Louis (editors), Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands Since the First World War, page 152:
   • In the absurd novel, the "shock of recognition" which is the mark of the traditional novel is replaced by the "shock of incognition"--the mark of the absurd world and the loss of illusions and light. 1967, American Literature Abstracts (publisher), American Literature Abstracts - Volumes 1-2, page 304:
   • nor was the exclusion of the statement that testator could not indicate that he understood what was said to him improper, or that his incognition was the same as when in good health. 1912, Daniel Coblens Joseph, Contest of Wills, page 193:
   • In another work he developed his theory of cognition or incognition. 1889, Albert Schwegler, Handbook of the History of Philosophy, page 35:
   • At the moment there is culpable incognition on the part of Nigerians as regards their political process. 1977, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Department of Political Science (contributor), Workshop on the Draft Constitution for Nigeria (20th-21st January '77) : [proceedings]:
   • thus did men of rank and opulence, practise like children, for that short fleeting hour of incognition or inebriety, sport little superior to the infantile recreations of the nursery! 1826, William Child Green, The Woodland Family Or The Sons of Error and Daughters of Simplicity, page 108:

Forms