cognoscenti (n.)

"connoisseur," 1778 (in the plural cognoscenti), an Italian word in English, re-Latinized in Italian from earlier conoscente "connoisseur," literally "knowing man," from Latin cognoscentum (nominative cognoscens), present participle of cognoscere "to get to know, recognize," from assimilated form of com "together" (see co-) + gnoscere "to know" (from PIE root *gno- "to know").