acquaintance

Everyday

1. An acquaintance is a person you know a little, but who is not a close friend. tree →
2. Acquaintance is knowledge of something or someone: «I have some acquaintance with French». tree →

In the lessons

In stories and formal speech: «an old acquaintance». In everyday life it is someone you say hello to. Phrases: «make someone's acquaintance» (formal: meet someone), «a nodding acquaintance» (knowing slightly).

Examples

• She is an acquaintance from my swimming club. tree →
• I made his acquaintance at the party. tree →
• He has lots of acquaintances but only a few close friends. tree →
• An old acquaintance of Dad's came to visit. tree →
• I have only a slight acquaintance with chess. tree →
• Pleased to make your acquaintance. tree →
• Acquaintance with evil blinds us to its dangers. tree →

Note

Spelling: acq-u-ai-n-t-a-n-c-e (it starts with «acq»). Verb: acquaint; «acquainted with» = knowing. Different from «friend»: an acquaintance is less close. Safety: an acquaintance is not someone to go off with without asking a parent.

In Jewish tradition

In Psalms and Job it means people one knows, whom a suffering person finds pulling away.

Interpretation. Tradition reads these as pictures of the loneliness of the righteous sufferer, who is left alone but turns to God.

Examples

• Friend and companion hast Thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness. (Writings PSA.88.19, JPS 1917) tree →
• He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are wholly estranged from me. (Writings JOB.19.13, JPS 1917) tree →
• Thou hast put mine acquaintance far from me; Thou hast made me an abomination unto them; I am shut up, and I cannot come forth. (Writings PSA.88.9, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Spelling: acq-u-ai-n-t-a-n-c-e (it starts with «acq»). Verb: acquaint; «acquainted with» = knowing. Different from «friend»: an acquaintance is less close. Safety: an acquaintance is not someone to go off with without asking a parent.