Knowing a thing again for what it is. Recognition is not the same as understanding, and it is not the same as becoming.
Latin recognitio, from recognoscere (to know again, to examine): re- (again) + cognoscere (to know), from co- (together) + gnoscere (to know); recognition is knowing a thing again, not knowing it for the first time.
Knowing a thing again for what it is. The root's again is the whole distinction: recognition is not understanding and it is not becoming, it is a second meeting with something already met once.