acknowledge(ak NAH lidzh) vt.1. to admit to be true; confess; 2. to recognize
the claims or authority of; 3. to answer a greeter, respond to an introduction, etc.;
- to express thanks for; 5. to affirm the reception of something
- Roxane acknowledgedthe charges against her.
- The insuror acknowledgedthe claims of the victim.
- The chair acknowledgesthe senator from Neverland.
- I’d like to acknowledgeboth my parents for the gift of life.
[-d, acknowledging, acknowledgment n.]
acquire(ak WYR) vt.1. to gain or get something; 2. to take possession of; obtain
- You would do well to acquirea good education.
- We all acquiresome of our parents’ traits by heredity.
- The United States acquiredthe Louisiana Territory by purchasing it from
France. - An appreciation for caviar is an acquiredtaste, unlike a love for creamed
corn, which is, of course, innate.
[-d, acquiring]
acquisition*(AK wuh zi shuhn) n.something or someone obtained - A developer’s acquisitionof the old Bethlehem Corp.’s property is seen as a
good thing for Easton. - Tania’s acquisitionof a new PDA made her very happy.
- Ali’s acquisitionof a new chauffeur pleased her to no end.
[acquisitive adj., acquisitively adv., acquisitiveness n.]
acrimony(AK ruh moh nee) n.bitterness, sharpness, or harshness of speech,
manner, or temper- The acrimony of the temper of a scorned woman is legendary both in litera-
ture and in life. - Dylan greeted the news that his new DVD player did not work at all with
considerable acrimonyin his oaths.
[acrimonious adj., acrimoniously adv.] [Syn. asperity]
acute(uh KYOOT) adj.1. sharply pointed; 2. shrewd; quick of mind; 3. sensitive to
something (like acute hearing); 4. severe and sharp (like acute pain); 5. serious; severe - An acuteangle forms a sharp point.
- Geoffrey’s acutemind made short work of the crossword.
- The eagle’s acuteeyesight can pick up a mouse on the ground from hun-
dreds of meters in the air. - Certain pains, like John, are acutebut of short duration.
- There is an acuteshortage of labor in some job categories.
[-ly adv., acuity n.] [Syn. sharp, keen, critical]
adapt*(uh DAPT) vt.1. to make suitable or to make fit by changing; 2. to
change oneself to fit new or changed conditions - Jim thought it perfectly sensible to adapthis gas stove’s IN line to connect
to the hot water line from his sink. - When Mary travels between Miami and Juneau, she adaptsher wardrobe—
especially outerwear—accordingly.
[-ed, -ing, -able adj., -ation, -er, adaptability n.]
- The acrimony of the temper of a scorned woman is legendary both in litera-
12 Essential Vocabulary