Acquainted

ppl. a. For forms see ACQUAINT v. [f. ACQUAINT v. + -ED.]

  1.  Personally known; familiar, through being known. Const. to, unto. Obs. of persons; arch. of things.

c. 1314.  Guy Warw., 57. To an ermite he is y-go That he was ere aqueynted to.

1560.  Phaër, Eneid, IX. B b 3. The horsmen kest themselues in crokings knowen of quainted ground.

1565.  Jewel, Repl. M. Harding (1611), 377. These authorities … be also plaine and euident, and well acquainted and knowen vnto the World.

1597.  Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., V. ii. 139. That Warre, or Peace, or both at once may be As things acquainted and familiar to vs.

1627.  Feltham, Resolves, I. xxxv. Wks. 1677, 60. Fram’d so, in an acquainted shape, to advantage his deceit the more.

1805.  Southey, Madoc in Aztl., xiv. Wks. V. 297. With cautious strength did Madoc aim attack, Mastering each moment now with abler sway, The acquainted sword.

1823.  Lamb, Elia, II. ix. (1865), 294. We are at home and upon acquainted ground.

  2.  Personally known (to any one) and having personal knowledge (of him); having mutual knowledge. Const. with.

c. 1230.  Ancren Riwle, 218. Þet he beo wel akointed mid ou.

c. 1400.  Rom. Rose, 600. Aqueynted am I & pryve With Myrthe, lord of this gardyne.

1494.  Fabyan, V. cxxxiii. 117. An holy man, named Felix, y^e which he was firste acqueynted with in Fraunce.

1509.  Hawes, Past. Pl., XIX. xiii. Tell me I pray you hertely … how were ye acquaynted?

1611.  Shaks., Cymb., I. iv. 132. I pray you be better acquainted.

1779.  Johnson, L. P., Gay, Wks. 1787, III. 204. [Pope] when he became acquainted with Gay … received him into his inmost confidence.

1882.  Daily News, 29 July, 3/6. They had been some time acquainted, and walked out together.

  3.  Having personal or experimental knowledge; possessed of personal knowledge, more or less complete. Const. with, rarely of (men or things).

1480.  Ragman Roll, 190 in Hazl., E. P. P., 177. Your hert ys roted in humylyté, And aquented nothing wyth his contrarye.

1535.  Coverdale, Isa. lxiii. 16. For Abraham knoweth vs not, nether is Israel acquainted with vs.

1611.  Bible, Isa. liii. 3. A man of sorrows, and acquainted with griefe.

1771.  Junius Lett., xliv. 237. We have but one way left to make ourselves acquainted with it.

1836.  Whately, Lett., in Life (1866), I. 346. Being sure of his being better acquainted than most people in England of the real state of Irish affairs.

1868.  Geo. Eliot, Felix Holt, 34. You have kept yourself … thoroughly acquainted with English politics.

  † 4.  Familiarized by experience with, accustomed to. Obs.

1533.  Bellenden, Livy, I. 107 (1822). The swetnes of native cuntre, to quhilk men bene nocht haistelie acquentit.

1623.  Bingham, Xenophon, 71. It was a strong drinke … very pleasant to them that were acquainted with it.

a. 1674.  Clarendon, Hist. Reb. (1843), 692/2. A vulgar spirit, accustomed to no excesses, and acquainted only with a very moderate fortune.

1683.  Tryon, Way to Health, 578. They’l be acquainted at Java and Japan … to understand their own Constitution.

  B.  absol. quasi-sb.

1577.  Hellowes, Gueuara’s Fam. Ep., 257. I take my leaue of your friendship, and also to call you my acquainted.