-t ə n(t)s, -tən- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English acointaunce, aquaintaunce, from Middle French acointance, from acointier + -ance
1.
a. : personal knowledge
an acquaintance with all types of men
: familiarity , experience
long acquaintance with Amazon river Indians
b. : the quality or state of being acquainted : mutual knowledge or familiarity
their acquaintance was of long standing
2.
a. : persons with whom one is acquainted
let your men- acquaintance be of your husband's choice — Jonathan Swift
— sometimes plural in constr.
the acquaintance … were unworthy of her — Jane Austen
b. : a not particularly close or intimate friend : a person with whom one has had some social contact but for whom one has no strong personal attachment
Synonyms: see friend