acquaint

[ uh-kweynt ]
See synonyms for: acquaintacquaintedacquainting on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
  1. to make more or less familiar, aware, or conversant (usually followed by with): to acquaint the mayor with our plan.

  2. to furnish with knowledge; inform (usually followed by with): to acquaint the manager with one's findings.

  1. to bring into social contact; introduce (usually followed by with): She acquainted her roommate with my cousin.

Origin of acquaint

1
1250–1300; Middle English aqueinten, acointen<Anglo-French acointer,Old French acoint(i)er, verbal derivative of acointe familiar, known <Latin accognitus, past participle of accognōscere to recognize, equivalent to ac-ac- + co-co- + gni-know1 + -tus past participle suffix

Other words from acquaint

  • pre·ac·quaint, verb (used with object)
  • re·ac·quaint, verb (used with object)

Words Nearby acquaint

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use acquaint in a sentence

  • Some of the colonists sincerely desired to acquaint and convert the Indians to Christianity.

  • It would do little or no good to acquaint the constable with their suspicion that the rascal might be the man named Cameron Smith.

    The Mystery at Putnam Hall | Arthur M. Winfield
  • Who will acquaint us when there is a concert, a choral service in church, or something wonderful to be seen at the fair?

  • At length the German commissioner arrived, and came to acquaint us that within two days we were to set out.

  • In the meantime Painted Weasel had ridden away to acquaint his companions with the plans of the war party.

    Three Sioux Scouts | Elmer Russell Gregor

British Dictionary definitions for acquaint

acquaint

/ (əˈkweɪnt) /


verb(tr)
  1. (foll by with or of) to make (a person) familiar or conversant (with); inform (of)

  2. (foll by with) mainly US to introduce (to); bring into contact (with)

Origin of acquaint

1
C13: via Old French and Medieval Latin from Latin accognitus, from accognōscere to know perfectly, from ad- (intensive) + cognōscere to know

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012