Acquaintance

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /əˈkweɪntÉ™ns/
• US IPA: /ʌˈkweɪn.tÉ™ns/

Alternative forms

• acquaintaunce

Origin

From Old French acointance. Compare French accointance.

Full definition of acquaintance

Noun

1. (uncountable) 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 intimacyI know of the man; but have no acquaintance with him.
• 1799, William Jones (philologist) (translator), , in The Works, Volume 6, page 22:Contract no friendÅ¿hip, or even acquaintance, with a guileful man : he reÅ¿embles a coal, which when hot burneth the hand, and when cold blacketh it.
2. (countable) A person or persons with whom one is acquainted.
• 1848, Thomas Babington Macaulay, , Chapter XVI:Montgomery was an old acquaintance of Ferguson.

Usage notes

Synonym notes: The words acquaintance, familiarity, and intimacy mark different degrees of closeness in social intercourse. Acquaintance arises from occasional intercourse; 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

Derived terms

• nodding acquaintance

Related terms

• acquaint