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acquaint

[uh-kweynt]
See more synonyms for acquaint 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.
  3. to bring into social contact; introduce (usually followed by with): She acquainted her roommate with my cousin.
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Origin of acquaint

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
Related formspre·ac·quaint, verb (used with object)re·ac·quaint, verb (used with object)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

accustomfamiliarizeappriseinformadviseenlightendiscloserevealdivulgeintroducecluewarnnotifyhabituateposttellpresentintro

Examples from the Web for acquainting

Historical Examples

  • Then devise some means of acquainting his friends of his whereabouts.

    A Bid for Fortune

    Guy Boothby

  • He had telegraphed to her, acquainting her with his defeat, and telling her to expect his return.

    The Prime Minister

    Anthony Trollope

  • He immediately wrote a letter to her, acquainting her with his arrival.

    The Poacher

    Frederick Marryat

  • Of acquainting him with the Business during his Apprenticeship.

  • When it was done, she posted a note to Heriot, acquainting him with her intention.

    One Man's View

    Leonard Merrick

British Dictionary definitions for acquainting

acquaint

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)
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Word Origin

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

Word Origin and History for acquainting

acquaint

v.

early 13c., from Old French acointier "make known, make acquaintance of," from Vulgar Latin accognitare "to make known," from Latin accognitus "acquainted with," past participle of accognoscere "know well," from ad- "to" (see ad-) + cognitus, past participle of cogniscere "come to know," from com- "with" (see com-) + gnoscere "know" (see notice). Originally reflective, "to make oneself known;" sense of "to gain for oneself personal knowledge of" is from early 14c. Related: Acquainted; acquainting.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper