Acquire
Pronunciation
- IPA: /əˈkwaɪɚ/
- Rhymes: -aɪə(ɹ)
Origin
From Middle English aqueren, from Old French aquerre, from Latin adquaerere; ad + quaerere (""). See quest.
Full definition of acquire
Verb
- (transitive) To get.
- (transitive) To gain, usually by one's own exertions; to get as one's own, as, to acquire a title, riches, knowledge, skill, good or bad habits.
- Isaac Barrow (1630-1677)No virtue is acquired in an instant, but step by step.
- William Blackstone (1723-1780)Descent is the title whereby a man, on the death of his ancestor, acquires his estate, by right of representation, as his heir at law.
- 1922, Michael Arlen, “Piracyâ€: A Romantic Chronicle of These Days Chapter 3/19/2, Ivor had acquired more than a mile of fishing rights with the house ; he was not at all a good fisherman, but one must do something ; one generally, however, banged a ball with a squash-racket against a wall.