acknowledge
verbUK /əkˈnɒl.ɪd͡ʒ/ · US /əkˈnɑ.lɪd͡ʒ/
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.
To admit the knowledge of; to recognize as a fact or truth; to declare one's belief in.
- to acknowledge the being of a god
- I acknowledge my transgressions.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalm 51:3:
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- [T]he charge of my moſt curious, and coſtly ingredients fraide, amounting to ſome ſeaventeene thouſand crovvnes, a trifle in reſpect of health, vvriting your noble name in my Catalogue, I ſhall acknovvledge my ſelfe amply ſatisfi'd.1631 (first performance), Philip Massinger, The Emperour of the East. A Tragæ-comœdie. […], London: […] Thomas Harper, for Iohn Waterson, published 1632, →OCLC, Act IV, scene iii:
- For ends generally acknowledged to be good.1849–1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter I, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume (please specify |volume=I to V), London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC:
- [N]ow ſuch a liue vngodly, vvithout a care of doing the wil of the Lord (though they profeſſe him in their mouths, yea though they beleeue and acknowledge all the Articles of the Creed, yea haue knowledge of the Scripturs) yet if they liue vngodly, they deny God, and therefore ſhal be denied, […]1604, Jeremy Corderoy, A Short Dialogve, wherein is Proved, that No Man can be Saved without Good VVorkes, 2nd edition, Oxford: Printed by Ioseph Barnes, and are to be sold in Paules Church-yard at the signe of the Crowne, by Simon Waterson, →OCLC, page 40:
- Addison: Pathfinder, you're making a mistake. Ryder: Maybe. But at least I'm willing to acknowledge it.2017, BioWare, Mass Effect: Andromeda, Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: Nexus:
To own or recognize in a particular quality, character or relationship; to admit the claims or authority of; to give recognition to.
- By my soul, I'll ne'er acknowledge thee.c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene v]:
- In all thy ways acknowledge Him.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Proverbs 3:6:
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- Such an episode in the Island's grand naval story her naval historians naturally abridge; one of them (G.P.R. James) candidly acknowledging that fain would he pass it over did not "impartiality forbid fastidiousness."1891, Henry Melville, chapter 3, in Billy Budd:
- He is calmed down only when the bearer of the beard “unbeards,” and acknowledges himself as Asher's old pal: […]2013, Tova Rosen, Unveiling Eve: Reading Gender in Medieval Hebrew Literature:
To be grateful of (e.g. a benefit or a favour)
- to acknowledge a favor
- They his gifts acknowledged none.1667, John Milton, “Book XI”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
To report (the receipt of a message to its sender).
- This is to acknowledge your kind invitation to participate in the upcoming debate.
To own as genuine or valid; to assent to (a legal instrument) to give it validity; to avow or admit in legal form.
- One who has been sheriff may acknowledge a deed executed by him while in office.1843, Thomas Isaac Wharton, A Digest of the Reported Cases Adjudged in the Several Courts Held in Pennsylvania, Together with Some Manuscript Cases:
- Derived terms
- acknowledgeable, acknowledged, acknowledger, acknowledge the corn, disacknowledge, misacknowledge, preacknowledge, reacknowledge, unacknowledge
- Related terms
- acknowledgment