acquaintance

acquaintance
/euh kwayn"tns/, n.
1. a person known to one, but usually not a close friend.
2. the state of being acquainted.
3. personal knowledge as a result of study, experience, etc.: a good acquaintance with French wines.
4. (used with a pl. v.) the persons with whom one is acquainted.
Also, acquaintanceship (for defs. 2, 3).
[1250-1300; ME aqueinta(u)nce, acoyntaunce < OF acointance. See ACQUAINT, -ANCE]
Syn. 1. ACQUAINTANCE, ASSOCIATE, COMPANION, FRIEND refer to a person with whom one is in contact. An ACQUAINTANCE is someone recognized by sight or someone known, though not intimately: a casual acquaintance. An ASSOCIATE is a person who is often in one's company, usually because of some work, enterprise, or pursuit in common: a business associate. A COMPANION is a person who shares one's activities, fate, or condition: a traveling companion; companion in despair. A FRIEND is a person with whom one is on intimate terms and for whom one feels a warm affection: a trusted friend. 3. familiarity, awareness.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Acquaintance — Ac*quaint ance, n. [OE. aqueintance, OF. acointance, fr. acointier. See {Acquaint}.] 1. 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • acquaintance — [ə kwānt′ ns] n. 1. knowledge (of something) gotten from personal experience or study of it [an intimate acquaintance with the plays of Jonson] 2. the state or relation of being acquainted (with someone) 3. a person or persons whom one knows, but …   English World dictionary

  • acquaintance — (n.) c.1300, state of being acquainted; late 14c., person with whom one is acquainted; also personal knowledge; from O.Fr. acointance acquaintance, friendship, familiarity, noun of action from acointer (see ACQUAINT (Cf. acquaint)). Acquaintant… …   Etymology dictionary

  • acquaintance — [n1] a person known informally associate, association, colleague, companion, contact, friend, neighbor; concept 423 Ant. stranger acquaintance [n2] knowledge of something through experience awareness, cognizance, conversance, familiarity,… …   New thesaurus

  • acquaintance — and description …   Philosophy dictionary

  • acquaintance — index cognition, experience (background), knowledge (awareness) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • acquaintance — *friend, intimate, confidant Analogous words: *associate, companion, comrade, crony Contrasted words: *stranger, outsider …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • acquaintance — ► NOUN 1) familiarity with or knowledge of someone or something. 2) a person one knows slightly …   English terms dictionary

  • acquaintance — n. familiarity 1) to have an acquaintance with (he has some acquaintance with statistics) 2) a slight, superficial acquaintance 3) on acquaintance (on closer acquaintance he proved to be a nice person) 4) an acquaintance with casual friendship 5) …   Combinatory dictionary

  • acquaintance — ac|quaint|ance [əˈkweıntəns] n ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(somebody you know)¦ 2¦(relationship)¦ 3 make somebody s acquaintance 4¦(knowledge)¦ 5 of your acquaintance 6 on first acquaintance ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1.) ¦(SOMEBODY YOU KNOW)¦ someone you know, but who is not a… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • acquaintance — noun 1 person you know ADJECTIVE ▪ casual ▪ I ran into a casual acquaintance in town. ▪ new ▪ close, old ▪ business …   Collocations dictionary

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