definition of the word acquaintanceby the Wiktionnary
From Middle English aqueintance, from Old French acointance, from acointier; see also acquaint.
acquaintance (plural acquaintances)
- (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 intimacy
- I know of the man; but have no acquaintance with him.
- (A date for this quote is being sought): Sir W. Jones:
- Contract no friendship, or even acquaintance, with a guileful man.
- (countable) A person or persons with whom one is acquainted.
- (A date for this quote is being sought): Thomas Macaulay:
- Montgomery was an old acquaintance of Ferguson.
- (a state): The words acquaintance, familiarity, and intimacy mark different degrees of closeness in social intercourse.
- Acquaintance arises from occasional intercourse. We can speak of a slight or an intimate acquaintance.
- Our acquaintance has been a brief one.
- (A date for this quote is being sought): Addison:
- Our admiration of a famous man lessens upon our nearer acquaintance with him.
- Familiarity is the result of continued acquaintance. It springs from persons being frequently together, so as to wear off all restraint and reserve.
- the familiarity of old companions
- (A date for this quote is being sought): Francis Atterbury:
- We contract at last such a familiarity with them as makes it difficult and irksome for us to call off our minds.
- Intimacy is the result of close connection, and the freest interchange of thought.
- the intimacy of established friendship
- (A date for this quote is being sought): Rogers:
- It is in our power to confine our friendships and intimacies to men of virtue.
- (a person or persons): Acquaintance was formerly used collectively, but now usually refers to only a single person.
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