Wednesday Word: Acquaintance

acquaintance |əˈkwāntns|noun1 a person's knowledge or experience of something : the students had little acquaintance with the language.• one's slight knowledge of or friendship with someone : I renewed my acquaintance with Herbert |most men of her acquaintance were in uniform now.2 a person one knows slightly, but who is not a close friend : a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.• such people considered collectively : his extensive acquaintance included Oscar Wilde and Yeats.PHRASESmake the acquaintance of (or make someone's acquaintance) meet someone for the first time and become only slightly familiar : they are anxious to make your acquaintance.DERIVATIVESacquaintanceship |-ˌ sh ip| nounORIGIN Middle English (in the sense [mutual knowledge, being acquainted] ): from Old Frenchacointance, from acointier ‘make known’ (seeacquaint ).

I hate, hate, HATE this word. I can never spell it right. Pox on your syllables, acquaintance!