Search the Dictionary

The act or process of acquiring. The acquisition or loss of a province. Macaulay.

Acquisition; the thing gained. [R.] Bacon.

Able or disposed to make acquisitions; acquiring; as, an acquisitive person or disposition.

In the way of acquisition.

Acquisition; gain. Milton.

That which is attained to, or obtained by exertion; acquirement; acquisition; (pl.), mental acquirements; knowledge; as, literary and scientific attainments.

The acquiring of property by other means than by inheritance; acquisition. Blackstone.

To require to be given, expended, or laid out therefor, as in barter, purchase, acquisition, etc.; to cause the cost, expenditure, relinquishment, or loss of; as, the ticket cost a dollar; the effort cost his life. A d'amond gone, cost me two thousand ducats. Shak. Though it cost me ten nights' watchings. Shak.…

re or rule, or of being immoderate, monstrous, or outrageous. The enormity of his learned acquisitions. De Quincey.

structing; the result of thorough instruction; the state of being erudite or learned; the acquisitions gained by extensive reading or study; particularly, learning in literature or criticism, as distinct from the sciences; scholarship. The management of a young lady's person is not be overlooked, but the erudition of h…

Light objects or particles readily taking a static electric charge may be moved apart by acquisition of a charge, or by approach of a charged object. Such a property is called flyaway. Syn. -- fluttering. [WordNet 1.5]

The obtaining or amassing of profit or valuable possessions; acquisition; accumulation. "The lust of gain." Tennyson.

To make acquisition; to gain; to profit; to receive accessions; to be increased. We mourn, France smiles; we lose, they daily get. Shak.

The act of obtaining or acquiring; acquisition. With all thy getting, get understanding. Prov. iv. 7.

Possession; ownership; acquisition. "The inheritance of their loves." Shak. To you th' inheritance belongs by right Of brother's praise; to you eke Spenser.

The passion or emotion excited by the acquisition or expectation of good; pleasurable feelings or emotions caused by success, good fortune, and the like, or by a rational prospect of possessing what we love or desire; gladness; exhilaration of spirits; delight. Her heavenly form beheld, all wished her joy. Dryden. Glid…

The acquisition of knowledge or skill; as, the learning of languages; the learning of telegraphy.

To gain, as the result of one's efforts; to get, as profit; to make acquisition of; to have accrue or happen to one; as, to make a large profit; to make an error; to make a loss; to make money. He accuseth Neptune unjustly who makes shipwreck a second time. Bacon.

One devoted to the acquisition of wealth or the service of Mammon. C. Kingsley.

The act or process of making money; the acquisition and accumulation of wealth. Obstinacy in money-making. Milman.