v.tr.
1. a recognize; accept; admit the truth of (acknowledged the failure of the plan). b (often foll. by to be + compl.) recognize as (acknowledged it to be a great success). c (often foll. by that + clause or to + infin.) admit that something is so (acknowledged that he was wrong; acknowledged him to be wrong).
2 confirm the receipt of (acknowledged her letter).
3 a show that one has noticed (acknowledged my arrival with a grunt). b express appreciation of (a service etc.).
4 own; recognize the validity of (the acknowledged king).
Derivatives:
acknowledgeable adj.
Etymology: obs. KNOWLEDGE v. after obs. acknow (as A-(4), KNOW), or f. obs. noun acknowledge