Recognition, by definition, is "the mental/genetic imperative which drives an elfin couple to mate and produce offspring. Recognition works to bring two elves together, whose genetic makeup will produce superior children. To deny Recognition is to court serious illness."

It is said among the elves, "Soul meets soul, when eyes meet eyes." At the moment of Recognition, when the two elves' eyes lock and each sees deeper into the other than ever before, their souls are laid bare. In that instant, they know each other's soulnames, the very essence of their beings. It must be emphasized that Recognition is NOT love. Recognition is purely a survival factor, unique to the elves alone. Since the elfin population is small in a Holt and often lacking genetic diversity, the occurrence of Recognition ensures that strong and healthy genes are promoted. Additionally, Recognition also guarantees that the children born of its force will be of the strongest, most skilled, and most gifted.

Recognition cares not for the parents, only for the child. While Recognition can be the answer to some elves' prayers, it can be pure hell to others. Recognized elves must answer the call to mate together to produce the destined child, or else risk illness and possible death should they choose to deny Recognition. However, the fact that an elfin couple becomes Recognized does NOT mean that the elves must live with and love each other after consummation, but many elves in the past have done so, remaining together still. Obviously, elves that despise or dislike one another, or those who are already committed to another mate with no intention of three-bonding may choose not to lifemate or cohabitate, though. When the child is born, Recognition's effects will fade, leaving behind the knowledge of the soulnames involved, and a special empathy for the partner.

Recognition is often sparked by fresh or unique genetic stock or a sudden population decrease, like in the event of a disaster claiming many lives. It is also not uncommon that elves who have known each other for many many years, or even their entire lives, may Recognize.