acquaintance

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a person with whom you are acquainted

   I have trouble remembering the names of all my acquaintances

2. 2
   noun

   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.

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

3. 3
   noun

   A person or persons with whom one is acquainted.

   Montgomery was an old acquaintance of Ferguson.

4. 4
   noun

   Such people collectively; one's circle of acquaintances (with plural concord).

   Having therefore conſulted with my Wife, and ſome of my Acquaintance, I determined to go again to Sea.

5. 5
   noun

   Personal knowledge (with a specific subject etc.).

   The words of these songs were either without meaning, or derived from an idiom with which Watt, a very fair linguist, had no acquaintance.

6. 6
   noun

   personal knowledge or information about someone or something

7. 7
   noun

   a relationship less intimate than friendship

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.