acquaint
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English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Middle English aqueinten, acointen, from Old French acointier, from Late Latin accognitāre, from Latin ad + cognitus, past participle of cognoscere (“to know”), from con- + noscere (“to know”). See quaint, know.
Pronunciation[edit]
Verb[edit]
acquaint (third-person singular simple present acquaints, present participle acquainting, simple past and past participle acquainted)
- (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.
- 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], OCLC 964384981, Isaiah 53:3:
- He is despised and reiected of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with griefe: and we hid as it were our faces from him; hee was despised, and wee esteemed him not.
- 1693, [John Locke], “§162”, in Some Thoughts Concerning Education, London: […] A[wnsham] and J[ohn] Churchill, […], OCLC 1161614482, page 203:
- Before a Man can be in any capacity to ſpeak on any ſubject, 'tis neceſsary to be acquainted with it: Or elſe 'tis as fooliſh to ſet him to diſcourſe on it, as to ſet a blind Man to talk of Colours, or a deaf man of Muſick.
- (transitive, archaic, followed by of or that) To communicate notice to; to inform; let know.
- c. 1591–1595, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act III, scene iv], page 68, column 2:
- Acquaint her here, of my Sonne Paris Loue,
- c. 1596–1599, William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act IV, scene i], page 91, column 1:
- I muſt acquaint you, that I haue recciu'd
New-dated Letters from Northumberland:
- (transitive, obsolete) To familiarize; to accustom.
- October 2 1642, Isaac Basire, letter to John Evelyn
- What success it may further have I shall acquaint you at my coming over
- October 2 1642, Isaac Basire, letter to John Evelyn
Synonyms[edit]
- (to make familiar): familiarize
- (to communicate notice to): advise, apprise, inform; See also Thesaurus:inform
- (to familiarize; to accustom): habituate, inure
Translations[edit]
to furnish or give experimental knowledge of
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to communicate notice to
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to familiarize; to accustom
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Adjective[edit]
acquaint (not comparable)
Related terms[edit]
References[edit]
- 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
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