acquaint

[uh-kweynt] /əˈkweɪnt/

verb (used with object)

to make more or less familiar, aware, or conversant (usually followed by with):

to acquaint the mayor with our plan.

to furnish with knowledge; inform (usually followed by with):

to acquaint the manager with one's findings.

to bring into social contact; introduce (usually followed by with):

She acquainted her roommate with my cousin.

Origin

1250-1300; Middle English aqueinten, acointen < Anglo-French acointer, Old French acoint(i)er, verbal derivative of acointe familiar, known < Latin accognitus, past participle of accognōscere to recognize, equivalent to ac- ac- + co- co- + gni- know + -tus past participle suffix

Related forms

preacquaint, verb (used with object)

reacquaint, verb (used with object)

Examples from the web for acquaint

They will acquaint you with the vocabulary and the range of concerns seldom discussed in your graduate seminars.
Look at the slide show and acquaint yourself with a few of them you may never take a bunny for granted again.
Partly there is a need to acquaint readers of the book with the basic principles of a bill of exchange.
Either way, these are people whom children will be eager to acquaint themselves with.
So's she could acquaint herself with the thing in no hurry and know what she was doing when the time came.
Those experiences have permitted me to acquaint myself with scores of truly intelligent and thoughtful hosts and speakers.
acquaint yourself with the lake's seasons, size restrictions and daily limits.
acquaint yourself with tide charts and use caution near points and the outer part of the bay.
Do your research, acquaint yourself with the the basics of primary data.
Today the plan was to reacquaint the dogs and acquaint the writer.

British Dictionary definitions for acquaint

acquaint

/əˈkweɪnt/

verb (transitive)

foll by with or of. to make (a person) familiar or conversant (with); inform (of)

(foll by with) (mainly US) to introduce (to); bring into contact (with)

Word Origin

C13: via Old French and Medieval Latin from Latin accognitus, from accognōscere to know perfectly, from ad- (intensive) + cognōscere to know

Word Origin and History for acquaint

early 13c., from Old French acointier "make known, make acquaintance of," from Vulgar Latin accognitare "to make known," from Latin accognitus "acquainted with," past participle of accognoscere "know well," from ad- "to" (see ad-) + cognitus, past participle of cogniscere "come to know," from com- "with" (see com-) + gnoscere "know" (see notice). Originally reflective, "to make oneself known;" sense of "to gain for oneself personal knowledge of" is from early 14c. Related: Acquainted; acquainting.