Obs. exc. dial. Also 4 coynt, 4–6 quaynt. [See ACQUAINT v., and cf. OF. cointier in Godef.] = To acquaint, in various uses.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 5707 (Gött.). Quen þai war quaintid … Þis moyses and sir Raguell [etc.].
c. 1330. [see ACQUAINT v. 3].
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 4644. He coynted him queyntli with þo tvo ladies.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 213. Now sall ȝe here How he … quayntid him with ladis.
1509. Barclay, Shyp of Folys (1570), 81. Spede your pace, To quaynt your selfe and company with grace.
1591. Nashe, Prognost., 1. To quaint my selfe with the art of Nauigation.
1606. Warner, Alb. Eng., XV. xciv. (1612), 378. God quaints not with Baal.
1886. Elworthy, W. Somerset Word-bk., Quaint, to acquaint, inform.
Hence † Quainted ppl. a.1, familiar. Obs.
1586. W. Webbe, Eng. Poetrie (Arb.), 75. Heere by the quainted floodes and springs most holie remaining.
