For forms see ACQUAINT v. [a. OFr. acoint, later accoint:—L. accognit-um, ad-cognit-um; f. ad to + cognit-um pa. pple. of cognōsc-ĕre to know, f. co- = com together + gnōsc-ĕre to come to the knowledge of, inceptive of *gno-ĕre to know. Superseded in lit. Eng. by the pple. ACQUAINTED, but retained in northern Eng. and in lit. Scotch.]
A. ppl. a. = ACQUAINTED: personally known; mutually known; having personal or experimental knowledge of. Const. with (to obs.)
1297. R. Glouc., 465. He was a quointe muche to the quene of Fraunce.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, VII. 138. Forthir aquynt quhill that we be.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 5203. With such love be no more aquente.
c. 1450. Merlin, iv. 72. I shall make you aqueynte with a gode man.
1663. Blair, Autobiog. (1848), v. 79. Desirous that I should be acquaint with him.
1720. Wodrow, Corr., II. 471 (1843). Some coffee-houses you are acquaint with.
1794. Burns, Wks., IV. 295. John Anderson my jo, John, When we were first acquent, Your locks were like the raven, Your bonnie brow was brent.
1867. J. Ingelow, Story of Doom, VII. 131. As men the less acquaint with deeds of blood.
† B. sb. An acquaintance. (Cf. OFr. acoint = familier, ami.) Obs.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Sompn. T., 283, Harl MS. To thy subjects do noon oppressioun; Ne make thyn acqueyntis fro the fle [Six-text MSS. acqueyntance-s].
