Complex sentence: Cognizance (Latin: "cognoscere", to know), knowledge, notice, especially judicial notice, the right of trying or considering a case judicially, the exercise of jurisdiction by a court of law.
Split into simpler sentences: Cognizance (Latin: "cognoscere", to know), generally refers to knowledge or awareness of some fact. In law, cognizance refers to judicial notice: the right of trying or considering a case judicially, the exercise of jurisdiction by a court of law.