English Online Dictionary. What means acknowledge? What does acknowledge mean?
English
Alternative forms
- acknowledg, acknowelege, aknowledge (obsolete)
Etymology
Recorded since 1553, a blend of Middle English aknowen (“to recognize, acknowledge”) and knowlechen (“to discover, reveal, acknowledge”). The former verb is from Old English oncnāwan, ācnāwan (“to know, recognize, acknowledge”), from on + cnāwan (“to know”). The latter is derived from the noun at hand in knowledge. For the formation compare Latin agnōscō and Russian призна́ть (priznátʹ), with cognate roots.
The /k/-sound was preserved by being redistributed to the preceding syllable: /əˈkn-/ > /əkˈn-/. The -c- was inserted accordingly to reflect this pronunciation more clearly.
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /əkˈnɒl.ɪd͡ʒ/, [əkˈnɒlɨ̞d͡ʒ], [əɡˈnɒlɨ̞d͡ʒ]
- (US) IPA(key): /əkˈnɑl.ɪd͡ʒ/, [əkˈnɑːɫəd͡ʒ], [ɨkˈnɑːɫɨd͡ʒ], [əɡˈnɑːɫəd͡ʒ], [ɨɡˈnɑːɫɨd͡ʒ]
- Rhymes: -ɒlɪdʒ
- Hyphenation US: ac‧knowl‧edge, UK: ac‧know‧ledge
Verb
acknowledge (third-person singular simple present acknowledges, present participle acknowledging, simple past and past participle acknowledged)
- (transitive) To admit the knowledge of; to recognize as a fact or truth; to declare one's belief in
- (transitive) To own or recognize in a particular quality, character or relationship; to admit the claims or authority of; to give recognition to.
- (transitive) To be grateful of (e.g. a benefit or a favour)
- (transitive) To report (the receipt of a message to its sender).
- (transitive) To own as genuine or valid; to assent to (a legal instrument) to give it validity; to avow or admit in legal form.
Usage notes
- See also confess
Synonyms
- (admit knowledge of): avow, recognize, admit
- (recognize a quality): recognize, admit, allow, concede, confess, own
- (be grateful of):
- (report receipt of message):
Derived terms
Related terms
- acknowledgment
Translations
References
- “acknowledge”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.