Search the Dictionary

A confusing and baffling network, as of paths or passages; an intricacy; a labyrinth. "Quaint mazes on the wanton green." Shak. Or down the tempting maze of Shawford brook. Wordaworth. The ways of Heaven are dark and intricate, Puzzled with mazes, and perplexed with error. Addison.

To perceive; to come to a knowledge of; to have personal acquaintance with; to experience; to suffer; as, the eye met a horrid sight; he met his fate. Of vice or virtue, whether blest or curst, Which meets contempt, or which compassion first. Pope.

One who is new in any business, profession, or calling; one unacquainted or unskilled; one yet in the rudiments; a beginner; a tyro. I am young; a novice in the trade. Dryden.

e or produced; having existed for a long time; as, old wine; an old friendship. "An old acquaintance." Camden.

s, an old-fashioned dress, girl. "Old-fashioned men of wit." Addison. This old-fashioned, quaint abode. Longfellow.

f a great diversity of colors. Called also heart's-ease, love-in-idleness, and many other quaint names.

One that is picked up, as a meal hastily got up for the occasion, a chance acquaintance, an informal game, etc.

Pertaining to polymathy; acquainted with many branches of learning.

put in possession; to make the owner or holder of property, power, knowledge, etc.; to acquaint; to inform; -- followed by of or with before the thing possessed, and now commonly used reflexively. I have possessed your grace of what I purpose. Shak. Record a gift . . . of all he dies possessed Unto his son. Shak. We p…

To inform; to give the news to; to make (one) acquainted with the details of a subject; -- often with up. Thoroughly posted up in the politics and literature of the day. Lond. Sat. Rev. To post off, to put off; to delay. [Obs.] "Why did I, venturously, post off so great a business" Baxter. -- To post over, to hurry ov…

tice or use; by experience or experiment; as, practically wise or skillful; practically acquainted with a subject.

One who is acquainted with, or skilled in, anything by practice; a practitioner.

the presence of some one, especially of a superior; to introduce formally; to offer for acquaintance; as, to present an envoy to the king; (with the reciprocal pronoun) to come into the presence of a superior. Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the lord. Job i. 6…

atively considered, as of goods; character; sort; rank. We lived most joyful, obtaining acquaintance with many of the city not of the meanest quality. Bacon

See Quaint. [Obs.]

See Quaintise. [Obs.] Chaucer.

To acknowledge acquaintance with, as by salutation, bowing, or the like.

To cause to perceive or understand; to acquaint; to inform; to convince; to assure; to make certain. Sir, be resolved. I must and will come. Beau & Fl. Resolve me, Reason, which of these is worse, Want with a full, or with an empty purse Pope. In health, good air, pleasure, riches, I am resolved it can not be equaled b…

awing the feet back and forth upon the floor; -- usually with down. Macaulay. To scrape acquaintance, to seek acquaintance otherwise than by an introduction. Farquhar. He tried to scrape acquaintance with her, but failed ignominiously. G. W. Cable.

n association, a public body, or an individual. That which is most of all profitable is acquaintance with the secretaries, and employed men of ambassadors. Bacon.