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Acknowledge

 - 4 dictionary results

ac⋅knowl⋅edge

  [ak-nol-ij]
Use Acknowledge in a Sentence
–verb (used with object), -edged, -edg⋅ing.
1. to admit to be real or true; recognize the existence, truth, or fact of: to acknowledge one's mistakes.
2. to show or express recognition or realization of: to acknowledge an acquaintance by nodding.
3. to recognize the authority, validity, or claims of: The students acknowledged the authority of the student council.
4. to show or express appreciation or gratitude for: to acknowledge a favor.
5. to indicate or make known the receipt of: to acknowledge a letter.
6. to take notice of or reply to: to acknowledge a greeting.
7. Law. to confirm as binding or of legal force: to acknowledge a deed.
Origin:
1475–85; acknowleche, appar. either ME aknou(en) to recognize (OE oncnāwan; see a- 1 , know ) + -leche n. suffix (OE *-lǣce, by-form of -lac; cf. knowledge, wedlock ); or b. aknouen and knouleche knowledge; then a- was mistaken for ac-

Related forms:
ac⋅knowl⋅edge⋅a⋅ble, adjective
ac⋅knowl⋅edg⋅er, noun

Synonyms:
1. concede, confess, grant. Acknowledge, admit, confess agree in the idea of declaring something to be true. Acknowledge implies making a statement reluctantly, often about something previously denied: to acknowledge a fault. Admit especially implies acknowledging something under pressure: to admit a charge. Confess usually means stating somewhat formally an admission of wrongdoing, crime, or shortcoming: to confess guilt; to confess an inability to understand.

Antonyms:
1. deny, disclaim, disavow.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To Acknowledge
ac·knowl·edge   (āk-nŏl'ĭj)   
tr.v.   ac·knowl·edged, ac·knowl·edg·ing, ac·knowl·edg·es

    1. To admit the existence, reality, or truth of.

    2. To recognize as being valid or having force or power.

    3. To express recognition of: acknowledge a friend's smile.

    4. To express thanks or gratitude for.

    1. To express recognition of: acknowledge a friend's smile.

    2. To express thanks or gratitude for.

  3. To report the receipt of: acknowledge a letter.

  4. Law To accept or certify as legally binding: acknowledge a deed.


[Probably blend of Middle English knowlechen, to acknowledge (from knouen, to know; see know) and Middle English aknouen, to recognize (from Old English oncnāwan, to know : on-, on; see on + cnāwan, to know; see know).]
ac·knowl'edge·a·ble adj.
Synonyms: These verbs mean to admit the reality or truth of something, often reluctantly. To acknowledge is to accept responsibility for something one makes known: He acknowledged his mistake.
Admit implies reluctance in acknowledging one's acts or another point of view: "She was attracted by the frankness of a suitor who . . . admitted that he did not believe in marriage" (Edith Wharton).
Own stresses personal acceptance and responsibility: She owned that she feared for the child's safety.
Avow means to assert openly and boldly: "Old Mrs. Webb avowed that he, in the space of two hours, had worn out her pew more . . . than she had by sitting in it forty years" (Kate Douglas Wiggin).
Confess usually emphasizes disclosure of something damaging or inconvenient to oneself: I have to confess that I lied to you.
To concede is to intellectually accept something, often against one's will: The lawyer refused to concede that the two cases had similarities.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

acknowledge 
1553, a blend of M.E. aknow (from O.E. oncnawan "understand," from on + cnawan "recognize;" see know) and M.E. verb knowlechen "admit." Somehow, in the merger, a parasitic -c- slipped in, so that, while the knc- became a simple "n" sound, the -c- stepped up to the plate to preserve, in this word, the ancient "kn-" sound.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: ac·knowl·edge
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: -edged; -edg·ing
1 : to indicate recognition and acceptance of acknowledged to be concurrent —McCulloch v. Maryland, 17 U.S. 316 (1819)>
2 a : to show by word or act that one has knowledge of and accepts responsibility for (a duty, obligation, or indebtedness) b : to admit paternity of acknowledge the child as his> —compare FILIATE
3 : to make known to a sender or giver the receipt of (what has been sent or given) or the fact of (one's having received what has been sent or given) <acknowledge receipt of a letter>
4 : to recognize as genuine so as to give validity : avow or admit in legal form acknowledged before one of the officers —U.S. Code>
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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