(law) a security entered into before a court with a condition to perform some act required by law

• On failure to perform that act a sum is forfeited

WordNet Word definitions in WordNet
n. (law) a security entered into before a court with a condition to perform some act required by law; on failure to perform that act a sum is forfeited [syn: recognisance ]

The Collaborative International Dictionary Word definitions in The Collaborative International Dictionary
Recognizance \Re*cog"ni*zance\ (r[-e]*k[o^]g"n[i^]*zans or r[-e]*k[o^]n"[i^]-), n. [F. reconnaissance, OF. recognoissance, fr. recognoissant, p. pr. of recognoistre to recognize, F. reconna[^i]tre, fr. L. recognoscere; pref. re- re- + cognoscere to know. ...

Wikipedia Word definitions in Wikipedia
In some common law nations, a recognizance is a conditional obligation undertaken by a person before a court. It is an obligation of record, entered into before a court or magistrate duly authorized, whereby the party bound acknowledges (recognizes) that ...

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary Word definitions in Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
early 14c., reconisaunce , "a bond acknowledging some obligation binding one over to do some particular act," from Old French reconissance "acknowledgment, recognition" (12c., Modern French reconnaissance ), from reconoiss- , present participle stem of ...

Wiktionary Word definitions in Wiktionary
n. 1 (context legal English) a form of bail; a promise made by the accused to the court that he/she will attend all required judicial proceedings and will not engage in further illegal activity or other prohibited conduct as set by the court. 2 A token; ...