[f. ACQUIRE v. + -MENT. Cf. 16th c. Fr. acquerement, OFr. aquerrement, f. aquerre to acquire.]
1. The action of acquiring (usually of personal enhancements).
1712. Addison, Spectator, No. 409, ¶ 7. It is very difficult to lay down Rules for the Acquirement of such a Taste.
1818. Mrs. Shelley, Frankenstein, iii. 59 (1865). Learn … how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge.
1866. Geo. Eliot, F. Holt, II. xviii. 51. That wisdom of the serpent which … is only of hard acquirement to dove-like innocence.
2. That which is acquired; the result of acquiring for oneself; gain, or attainment. Usually a personal attainment of body or mind, as distinct from an acquisition or material and external gain, and opposed to a natural gift or talent.
1630. J. Hayward, Edw. VI., 4. These his acquirements by industrie were exceedingly both enriched and enlarged by many excellent endowments of nature.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., 18. We embrace the shadow thereof [of truth], or so much as may palliate its just and substantiall acquirements.
1704. Swift, T. of Tub (1709), 77. Every Branch of Knowledge has received wonderful Acquirements since his age.
1802. Mar. Edgeworth, Mor. Tales, I. 206 (1866). A woman of considerable information and literature; acquirements not common amongst … ladies.
1862. Ld. Brougham, Brit. Const., xv. 218. His capacity was far from mean, and his acquirements were very considerable.
b. collectively.
1868. M. Pattison, Academ. Organ., § 4. 95. The competition is not an examination in acquirement, but turns mainly on the performance of exercises.
1878. Seeley, Stein, I. 149. A man of greater ability and acquirement than Stein.
