Part 123

<hw>Ac`ous*ti"cian</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>One versed in acoustics.</def>

<i>Tyndall.</i>

<h1>Acoustics</h1> <Xpage=16>

<hw>A*cous"tics</hw> <tt>(#; 277)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Names of sciences in <ets>-ics</ets>, as, <ets>acoustics</ets>, <ets>mathematics</ets>, etc., are usually treated as singular. See <er>-ics</er>.]</ety> <fld>(Physics.)</fld> <def>The science of sounds, teaching their nature, phenomena, and laws.</def>

<blockquote><b>Acoustics</b>, then, or the science of sound, is a very considerable branch of physics. <i>Sir J. Herschel.</i></blockquote>

<note>&hand; The science is, by some writers, divided, into <i>diacoustics</i>, which explains the properties of sounds coming directly from the ear; and <i>catacoustica</i>, which treats of reflected sounds or echoes.</note>

<h1>Acquaint</h1> <Xpage=16>

<hw>Ac*quaint"</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[OF. <ets>acoint</ets>. See <er>Acquaint</er>, <tt>v. t.</tt>]</ety> <def>Acquainted.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<h1>Acquaint</h1> <Xpage=16>

<hw>Ac*quaint"</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Acquainted</er>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Acquainting</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[OE. <ets>aqueinten</ets>, <ets>acointen</ets>, OF. <ets>acointier</ets>, LL. <ets>adcognitare</ets>, fr. L. <ets>ad + cognitus</ets>, p. p. of <ets>cognoscere</ets> to know; <ets>con-</ets> + <ets>noscere</ets> to know. See <er>Quaint</er>, <er>Know</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To furnish or give experimental knowledge of; to make (one) to know; to make familiar; -- followed by <i>with</i>.</def>

<blockquote>Before a man can speak on any subject, it is necessary to be <b>acquainted</b> with it. <i>Locke.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>A man of sorrows and <b>acquainted</b> with grief. <i>Isa. liii. 3.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To communicate notice to; to inform; to make cognizant; -- followed by <i>with</i> (formerly, also, by <i>of</i>), or by <i>that</i>, introducing the intelligence; <as>as, to <ex>acquaint</ex> a friend with the particulars of an act</as>.</def>

<blockquote><b>Acquaint</b> her here of my son Paris' love. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>I must <b>acquaint</b> you that I have received New dated letters from Northumberland. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>To familiarize; to accustom.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Evelyn.</i>

<cs><col>To be acquainted with</col>, <cd>to be possessed of personal knowledge of; to be cognizant of; to be more or less familiar with; to be on terms of social intercourse with.</cd></cs>

<syn>Syn. -- To inform; apprise; communicate; advise.</syn>

<h1>Acquaintable</h1> <Xpage=16>

<hw>Ac*quaint"a*ble</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[Cf. OF. <ets>acointable</ets>]</ety>. <def>Easy to be acquainted with; affable.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Rom. of R.</i>

<h1>Acquaintance</h1> <Xpage=16>

<hw>Ac*quaint"ance</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[OE. <ets>aqueintance</ets>, OF. <ets>acointance</ets>, fr. <ets>acointier</ets>. See <er>Acquaint</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>A state of being acquainted, or of having intimate, or more than slight or superficial, knowledge; personal knowledge gained by intercourse short of that of friendship or intimacy; <as>as, I know the man; but have no <ex>acquaintance</ex> with him.</as></def>

<blockquote>Contract no friendship, or even <b>acquaintance</b>, with a guileful man. <i>Sir W. Jones.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>A person or persons with whom one is acquainted.</def>

<blockquote>Montgomery was an old <b>acquaintance</b> of Ferguson. <i>Macaulay.</i></blockquote>

<note>&hand; In this sense the collective term <i>acquaintance</i> was formerly both singular and plural, but it is now commonly singular, and has the regular plural <i>acquaintances</i>.</note>