[ad. L. acquīsītiōn-em n. of action, f. acquīsīt-, ppl. stem of acquīrĕre. See ACQUIRE.]
1. The action of obtaining or getting for oneself, or by one’s own exertion.
1387. Trevisa, Higden, Rolls, Ser. I. 35. The adquisicion of a hollesom merite.
1651. Hobbes, Leviathan, II. xix. 96. Versed more in the acquisition of Wealth than of Knowledge.
1736. Butler, Anal., I. iv. 110. Neither is it offered to our acceptance, but to our acquisition.
1842. H. Rogers, Introd. Burke’s Wks. (1842), I. 3. A tenacious memory, and an unrivalled facility of acquisition.
1876. Hamerton, Intell. Life, II. ii. 61. Work involves the acquisition of new habits.
2. A thing acquired or gained; a gain or acquirement.
1477. Earl Rivers (Caxton), Dictes, 53. Trouble not thyself gretly with wordely acquisicions.
1610. Shaks., Temp., IV. i. 13. Then as my guest [v.r. gift], and thine owne acquisition Worthily purchas’d, take my daughter.
1686. R. Burton (title), View of the English Acquisitions in Guinea.
1750. Johnson, Rambl., No. 77, ¶ 11. Writers whose powers & acquisitions place them high in the rank of literature.
1809. Syd. Smith, Wks., 1867, I. 174. A great classical scholar is an ornament and an important acquisition to his country.
1840. Macaulay, Ess., Clive, 89. Acquisitions made by the arms of the State belong to the State alone.
