[a variant of ACQUEST, after L. acquīsīt-um, med.L. acquīst-um, It. acquisto. Commonly used for the action, while acquest is more common for the result.]
1. The action of acquiring, acquisition, gain.
1613. Sir A. Sherley, Trav. to Persia, 7. The profite which must needs follow from so great an acquist.
1629. Bacon, War with Spain, in Harl. Misc. (Malh.), IV. 138. A nation, that is manifestly detected to aspire to monarchy and new acquists.
1650. Jer. Taylor, Holy Liv. (1727), Pref. 2. Assist their endeavours in the acquist of vertues.
a. 1677. Barrow, Serm. (1683), II. iii. 53. Let us therefore be exhorted, if we do want it [faith], to endeavour the acquist of it by all proper means.
1850. Browning, Christmas Eve, 213. How gladly! if I made acquist, Through the brief minute’s fierce annoy, Of God’s eternity of joy.
1851. Trench, Poems, 177. In the acquist of what is life’s true gage.
† 2. A thing acquired, an acquisition. Commonly written ACQUEST. Obs.
1635. J. Hayward, Banish’d Virgin, 75. The parts neerest it were the Tingitans new acquists in Iberia.
a. 1677. Barrow, in Beauties of Barrow (1846), 165. In the gifts of fortune, or in the acquists of industry.
