acquaintance — a person one knows slightly, but who is not a close friend
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a person one knows slightly, but who is not a close friend
Pronunciation (IPA): /əˈkweɪntəns/
Example Sentences
- I bumped into an old acquaintance at the coffee shop who still owed me $5 from 2019.
- She's more than an acquaintance but less than a friend - we're in that awkward social limbo.
- My acquaintance with classical music began when I accidentally walked into the wrong concert.
acquaintance
NOUN[/əˈkweɪntəns/]
a person one knows slightly, but who is not a close friend
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word derives from Middle French 'acointier', meaning 'to make familiar or acquainted'. It evolved through connection with Latin 'cognitus' (known), ultimately developing into its modern sense of 'a person one knows'.
Breakdown
ac- (to, toward) + quaint (known, from Latin cognitus) + -ance (suffix denoting state or condition). The root 'quaint' relates to Latin 'cognitus' through Old French 'cointe'.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“I bumped into an old acquaintance at the coffee shop who still owed me $5 from 2019.”
“She's more than an acquaintance but less than a friend - we're in that awkward social limbo.”
“My acquaintance with classical music began when I accidentally walked into the wrong concert.”
“He has a wide circle of acquaintances but very few close friends.”
📚Related Words
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