Etymology: obsolete French (now connaisseur), from Old French connoisseor, from connoistre to know, from Latin cognoscere

1 : EXPERT; especially : one who understands the details, technique, or principles of an art and is competent to act as a critical judge

2 : one who enjoys with discrimination and appreciation of subtleties ie: a connoisseur of fine wines

~www.webster.com

Con`nois*seur" [F. connaisseur, formerly connoisseur, fr. connaitre to know, fr. L. cognoscere to become acquainted with; co- + noscere, gnoscere, to learn to know. See Know, amd cf. Cognizor.]

One well versed in any subject; a skillful or knowing person; a critical judge of any art, particulary of one of the fine arts.

The connoisseur is "one who knows," as opposed to the dilettant, who only "thinks he knows." Fairholt.

 

© Webster 1913.

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