acquaint

English

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -eɪnt

Verb

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

1. (transitive, followed by with) To furnish or give experimental knowledge of; to make (one) to know; to make familiar.
   • I think you should acquaint him with the realities of the situation.
   • (Can we date this quote?) John Locke

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

   • (Can we date this quote?) Isaiah 53:3

     A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.

2. (transitive, archaic, followed by of or that) To communicate notice to; to inform; to make cognizant.
   • (Can we date this quote?) William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, III-iv

     Acquaint her here of my son Paris' love.

   • (Can we date this quote?) William Shakespeare, Henry IV, Part II, IV-i

     I must acquaint you that I have received New dated letters from Northumberland.

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

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Evelyn to this entry?)

Synonyms

The terms below need to be checked and allocated to the definitions (senses) of the headword above. Each term should appear in the sense for which it is appropriate. Use the template {{sense|"gloss"}}, substituting a short version of the definition for "gloss".

• inform
• apprise
• communicate
• advise

Translations

to furnish or give experimental knowledge of

• Bulgarian: запознавам (zapoznavam), известявам (bg) (izvestjavam)

• Finnish: tutustuttaa, perehdyttää

to communicate notice to

• Bulgarian: съобщавам (bg) (sǎobštavam)

to familiarize; to accustom

• Bulgarian: запознавам (zapoznavam)

• Spanish: familiarizar

Adjective

acquaint (not comparable)

1. (obsolete) Acquainted.

Related terms

• acquaintance
• acquainted

References

• acquaint in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• acquaint in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• acquaint at OneLook Dictionary Search