acquaint

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Verb 1.3.1 Derived terms 1.3.2 Synonyms 1.3.3 Translations 1.4 Adjective 1.5 References

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

Middle English aqueinten, acointen < Old French acointier < Late Latin adcognitare < Latin ad + cognitus, past participle of cognoscere (“‘to know’”) < con- + noscere (“‘to know’”). See quaint, know.

[edit] Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -eɪnt

[edit] Verb

to acquaint (third-person singular simple present acquaints, present participle acquainting, simple past and past participle acquainted)

1. (transitive) To furnish or give experimental knowledge of; to make (one) to know; to make familiar; -- followed by 'with'.

   Before a man can speak on any subject, it is necessary to be acquainted with it. -John Locke

   A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. -Isaiah 53:3

2. (ditransitive) To communicate notice to; to inform; to make cognizant; -- followed by 'with' (formerly, also, by 'of'), or by 'that', introducing the intelligence; as, to acquaint a friend with the particulars of an act.

   Acquaint her here of my son Paris' love. -Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, III-iv

   I must acquaint you that I have received New dated letters from Northumberland. -Shakespeare, Henry IV, Part II, IV-i

3. (obsolete, transitive) To familiarize; to accustom.

[edit] Derived terms

• To be acquainted with: to be possessed of personal knowledge of; to be cognizant of; to be more or less familiar with; to be on terms of social intercourse with.

[edit] Synonyms

• inform
• apprise
• communicate
• advise

[edit] Translations

[edit] Adjective

acquaint (not comparable)

1. (obsolete) acquainted

[edit] References

• acquaint in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913