acquaintance

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English aqueyntaunce, from Anglo-Norman aquaintaunce, aqueintance, Old French acointance (“friendship, familiarity”), from Old French acointier (“to acquaint”). Compare French accointance. Morphologically acquaint +‎ -ance. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /əˈkweɪntəns/ (US) IPA(key): /ʌˈkweɪn.təns/ === Noun === acquaintance (countable and uncountable, plural acquaintances) (uncountable) A state of being acquainted with a person; originally indicating friendship, intimacy, but now suggesting a slight knowledge less deep than that of friendship; acquaintanceship. [from 12th c.] (countable) A person or persons with whom one is acquainted. [from 14th c.] (uncountable) Such people collectively; one's circle of acquaintances (with plural concord). [from 15th c.] Personal knowledge (with a specific subject etc.). [from 16th c.] ==== Usage notes ==== Synonym notes: The words acquaintance, familiarity, and intimacy now mark different degrees of closeness in social intercourse. Acquaintance arises from occasional intercourse or interaction; as, "our acquaintance has been a brief one". We can speak of a slight or an intimate acquaintance. Familiarity is the result of continued acquaintance. It springs from persons being frequently together, so as to wear off all restraint and reserve; as, "the familiarity of old companions". Intimacy is the result of close connection, and the freest interchange of thought; as, "the intimacy of established friendship". ==== Synonyms ==== familiarity, fellowship, intimacy, knowledge See also Thesaurus:acquaintance ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== acquaint ==== Translations ==== === References === “acquaintance”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC. “acquaintance”, in OneLook Dictionary Search. == Scots == === Noun === acquaintance (plural acquaintances) alternative form of acquantance === References === “acquaintance, n.”, in The Dictionary of the Scots Language, Edinburgh: Scottish Language Dictionaries, 2004–present, →OCLC.