Definitions for acquaintance
ac·quain·tance

Princeton's WordNet(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. acquaintance, familiarity, conversance, conversancynoun

   personal knowledge or information about someone or something

2. acquaintance, acquaintanceshipnoun

   a relationship less intimate than friendship

3. acquaintance, friendnoun

   a person with whom you are acquainted

   "I have trouble remembering the names of all my acquaintances"; "we are friends of the family"

Wiktionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. acquaintancenoun

   A state of being acquainted, or of having intimate, or more than slight or superficial, knowledge; personal knowledge gained by intercourse short of that of friendship or intimacy

   I know of the man; but have no acquaintance with him.

2. acquaintancenoun

   A person or persons with whom one is acquainted.

3. Etymology: From acointance. Compare French accointance.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Acquaintancenoun

   Etymology: accointance, Fr.

   1. The state of being acquainted with; familiarity, knowledge. It is applied as well to persons as things, with the particle with.

   Nor was his acquaintance less with the famous poets of his age, than with the noblemen and ladies. Dryd.

   Our admiration of a famous man lessens upon our nearer acquaintance with him; and we seldom hear of a celebrated person, without a catalogue of some notorious weaknesses and infirmities. Joseph Addison, Spectator, №. 256.

   Would we be admitted into an acquaintance with God: let us study to resemble him. We must be partakers of a divine nature, in order to partake of this high privilege and alliance. Francis Atterbury, Sermons.

   2. Familiar knowledge, simply without a preposition.

   Brave soldier, pardon me,
   That any accent breaking from my tongue,
   Should ’scape the true acquaintance of mine ear. William Shakespeare, K. John.

   This keeps the understanding long in converse with an object, and long converse brings acquaintance. Robert South, Sermons.

   In what manner he lived with those who were of his neighbourhood and acquaintance, how obliging his carriage was to them, what kind offices he did, and was always ready to do them, I forbear particularly to say. Francis Atterbury, Sermons.

   3. A slight or initial knowledge, short of friendship, as applied to persons.

   I hope I am pretty near seeing you, and therefore I would cultivate an acquaintance; because if you do not know me when we meet, you need only keep one of my letters, and compare it with my face; for my face and letters are counterparts of my heart. Jonathan Swift, to Pope, Letter xii.

   A long noviciate of acquaintance should precede the vows of friendship. Henry St. John Bolingbroke.

   4. The person with whom we are acquainted; him of whom we have some knowledge, without the intimacy of friendship. In this sense, the plural is, in some authors, acquaintance, in others acquaintances.

   But she, all vow’d unto the red-cross knight,
   His wand’ring peril closely did lament,
   Ne in this new acquaintance could delight,
   But her dear heart with anguish did torment. F. Queen, b. i.

   That young men travel under some tutor, I allow well, so that he be such a one that may be able to tell them, what acquaintances they are to seek, what exercises or discipline the place yieldeth. Francis Bacon, Essay xix.

   This, my lord, has justly acquired you as many friends, as there are persons who have the honour to be known to you; meer acquaintance you have none, you have drawn them all into a nearer line; and they who have conversed with you, are for ever after inviolably yours. John Dryden, Juvenal, Dedicat.

   We see he is ashamed of his nearest acquaintances. Robert Boyle, against Bentley.

Webster Dictionary(4.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Acquaintancenoun

   a state of being acquainted, or of having intimate, or more than slight or superficial, knowledge; personal knowledge gained by intercourse short of that of friendship or intimacy; as, I know the man; but have no acquaintance with him

2. Acquaintancenoun

   a person or persons with whom one is acquainted

The Roycroft Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. acquaintance

   Any one we bow to politely at the opera or shake hands with warmly in a barroom, but whom we would kick out of our homes. Hence, any one who has refused us a loan.

Matched Categories

1. • Information
   • Person
   • Relationship

How to pronounce acquaintance?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say acquaintance in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of acquaintance in Chaldean Numerology is: 9

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of acquaintance in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

Examples of acquaintance in a Sentence

1. George Eliot:

   The beginning of an acquaintance whether with persons or things is to get a definite outline of our ignorance.

2. Samuel Johnson:

   I look upon every day to be lost, in which I do not make a new acquaintance.

3. Junko Ishido:

   My son felt he had to do everything in his power to try to rescue a friend and acquaintance.

4. Franklin P. Jones:

   Honest criticism is hard to take, especially from a relative, a friend, an acquaintance, or a stranger.

5. Jonathan Swift, "A Modest Proposal":

   I have been assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London, that a young healthy child well nursed is at a year old a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled, and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricassee, or a ragout.

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