The word "cognizant" means being aware of or having knowledge about something. It implies that a person is conscious of certain facts or situations and understands them. For example, if someone is cognizant of the rules in a game, it means they are aware of and understand those rules.
The word "cognizant" comes from the Latin word "cognoscere," which means "to know." The suffix "-ant" is used to form present participles, indicating an action or state. Thus, "cognizant" essentially refers to the state of knowing.