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acknowledge

[ak-nol-ij]
verb (used with object), ac·knowl·edged, ac·knowl·edg·ing.
  1. to admit to be real or true; recognize the existence, truth, or fact of: to acknowledge one's mistakes.
  2. to show or express recognition or realization of: to acknowledge an acquaintance by nodding.
  3. to recognize the authority, validity, or claims of: The students acknowledged the authority of the student council.
  4. to show or express appreciation or gratitude for: to acknowledge a favor.
  5. to indicate or make known the receipt of: to acknowledge a letter.
  6. to take notice of or reply to: to acknowledge a greeting.
  7. Law. to confirm as binding or of legal force: to acknowledge a deed.
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Origin of acknowledge

1475–85; acknowleche, apparently either Middle English aknou(en) to recognize (Old English oncnāwan; see a-1, know1) + -leche noun suffix (Old English *-lǣce, by-form of -lac; cf. knowledge, wedlock); or blend of aknouen and knouleche knowledge; then a- was mistaken for ac-
Related formsac·knowl·edge·a·ble, adjectiveac·knowl·edg·er, nounpre·ac·knowl·edge, verb (used with object), pre·ac·knowl·edged, pre·ac·knowl·edg·ing.re·ac·knowl·edge, verb (used with object), re·ac·knowl·edged, re·ac·knowl·edg·ing.un·ac·knowl·edg·ing, adjective

Synonyms

1. concede, confess, grant.

Synonym study

1. Acknowledge, admit, confess agree in the idea of declaring something to be true. Acknowledge implies making a statement reluctantly, often about something previously denied: to acknowledge a fault. Admit especially implies acknowledging something under pressure: to admit a charge. Confess usually means stating somewhat formally an admission of wrongdoing, crime, or shortcoming: to confess guilt; to confess an inability to understand.

Antonyms

1. deny, disclaim, disavow.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
British Dictionary definitions for acknowledgeable

acknowledge

verb (tr)
  1. (may take a clause as object) to recognize or admit the existence, truth, or reality of
  2. to indicate recognition or awareness of, as by a greeting, glance, etc
  3. to express appreciation or thanks forto acknowledge a gift
  4. to make the receipt of known to the senderto acknowledge a letter
  5. to recognize, esp in legal form, the authority, rights, or claims of
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Derived Formsacknowledgeable, adjectiveacknowledger, noun

Word Origin

C15: probably from earlier knowledge, on the model of Old English oncnāwan, Middle English aknowen to confess, recognize
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

Word Origin and History for acknowledgeable

acknowledge

v.

1550s, a blend of Middle English aknow (from Old English oncnawan "understand," from on + cnawan "recognize;" see know) and Middle English knowlechen "admit, acknowledge" (c.1200; see knowledge). In the merger, a parasitic -c- slipped in, so that while the kn- became a simple "n" sound (as in know), the -c- stepped up to preserve, in this word, the ancient "kn-" sound. Related: Acknowledged; acknowledging.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper