cognoscente
noun
Did you know?
Cognoscente and connoisseur are more than synonyms; they're also linguistic cousins. Both terms descend from the Latin verb cognōscere, meaning "to know," and they're not alone. You might guess that cognizance and cognition are members of the cognōscere clan. Do you also recognize a family resemblance in recognize? Can you see through the disguise of incognito? Did you have a premonition that we would mention precognition? Cognoscente itself came to English by way of Italian and has been a part of the language since the late 1700s.
Synonyms
- connoisseur
- dilettante [dated]
Example Sentences
Ann Benoit, NOLA.com, 6 May 2018 Word History
borrowed from Italian (now spelled conoscente), from cognoscente, conoscente adjective, "knowing," from present participle of cognoscere, conoscere "to know, have knowledge of," going back to Latin cognōscere "to get to know, acquire knowledge of" — more at cognition
1776, in the meaning defined above
cognoscenti
noun
Synonyms & Similar Words
- connoisseurs
- scholars
- devotees
- dilettantes
- critics
- collectors
- fans
- dilettanti
- experts
- virtuosos
- masters
- aficionados
- reviewers
- adepts
- virtuosi
- maestros
- enthusiasts
- dabblers
- amateurs
- afficionados
- specialists
- past masters
- authorities
- buffs
- maestri
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- philistines
- materialists
- groundlings
- lowbrows
Synonyms & Similar Words
- experts
- adepts
- scholars
- masters
- virtuosos
- artists
- gurus
- wizards
- connoisseurs
- virtuosi
- specialists
- mavens
- authorities
- geeks
- maestros
- hotshots
- professionals
- enthusiasts
- hands
- proficients
- meisters
- consultants
- aces
- past masters
- crackerjacks
- whizzes
- mavins
- fiends
- aficionados
- sharks
- fans
- sharps
- crackajacks
- maestri
- devotees
- pros
- craftsmen
- dab hands
- afficionados
- buffs
- dabs
- addicts
- journeymen
- hired guns
- mistresses
- all-rounders
- jacks-of-all-trades
- Renaissance men
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- amateurs
- neophytes
- novices
- nonexperts
- beginners
- apprentices
- laymen
- dilettantes
- dabblers
- dilettanti
- inexperts
- nonprofessionals