acknowledge

English

Alternative forms

• acknowledg, acknowelege, aknowledge (obsolete)

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.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /əkˈnɒl.ɪd͡ʒ/, ,
• (US) IPA^(key): /əkˈnɑl.ɪd͡ʒ/, , , ,
• Rhymes: -ɒlɪdʒ

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Hyphenation US: ac‧knowl‧edge, UK: ac‧know‧ledge

Verb

acknowledge (third-person singular simple present acknowledges, present participle acknowledging, simple past and past participle acknowledged)

1. (transitive) 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

   • 1611, The Holy Bible,  (King James Version), London: Robert Barker, , →OCLC, Psalm 51:3:

     I acknowledge my transgressions.

   • 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:

     [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.

   • 1849–1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter 1, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volumes (please specify |volume=I to V), London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC:

     For ends generally acknowledged to be good.

   • 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:

     [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, […]

   • 2017, BioWare, Mass Effect: Andromeda, Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: Nexus:

     Addison: Pathfinder, you're making a mistake.
     Ryder: Maybe. But at least I'm willing to acknowledge it.

2. (transitive) To own or recognize in a particular quality, character or relationship; to admit the claims or authority of; to give recognition to.
   • 1611, The Holy Bible,  (King James Version), London: Robert Barker, , →OCLC, Proverbs 3:6:

     In all thy ways acknowledge Him.

   • 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 Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :

     By my soul, I'll ne'er acknowledge thee.

3. (transitive) To be grateful of (e.g. a benefit or a favour)

   to acknowledge a favor

   • 1667, John Milton, “Book XI”, in Paradise Lost. , London: [Samuel Simmons], , →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: , London: Basil Montagu Pickering , 1873, →OCLC:

     They his gifts acknowledged none.

4. (transitive) To report (the receipt of a message to its sender).

   This is to acknowledge your kind invitation to participate in the upcoming debate.

5. (transitive) To own as genuine or valid; to assent to (a legal instrument) to give it validity; to avow or admit in legal form.
   • 1843, Thomas Isaac Wharton, A Digest of the Reported Cases Adjudged in the Several Courts Held in Pennsylvania, Together with Some Manuscript Cases:

     One who has been sheriff may acknowledge a deed executed by him while in office.

Usage notes

• See also confess

Synonyms

• (admit knowledge of): avow, recognize, admit
• (recognize a quality): recognize, admit, allow, concede, confess, own
• (be grateful of):
• (report receipt of message):

Derived terms

Related terms

• acknowledgment

Translations

References

• “acknowledge”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.