acknowledge English · revision 7045

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=blend|attested=1481}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /əkˈnɒl.ɪd͡ʒ/ ''(UK)''; /əkˈnɑ.lɪd͡ʒ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a blend of Middle English aknow, to admit, and knowlechen, to admit or acknowledge (see [[knowledge]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998) formed perhaps on the analogy of aknow and know.^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002) Aknow is from Old English [[m|ang|oncnāwan|t=to understand, recognize]], from on and cnāwan, to know (see [[know]]).^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) An unetymological -c- slipped in, perhaps to preserve the old kn- sound when kn- was reduced to n-.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To recognize someone as what he claims to be: 1481, in Caxton's ''Mirror of the World''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) Etymonline dates it to the late 15th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The OED notes that by the 16th century the older verbs knowledge and acknow were obsolete and acknowledge took their place.^(Etymonline) To own the knowledge of, to confess, is from 1553.^(OED 1989) To express thanks for a gift or service is from 1667,^(OED 1989) and to confirm receipt of a letter is a later sense.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023) To recognize a document as genuine and legally valid is from 1870,^(OED 1989) and to show that one has noticed someone, as with a nod, from 1881.^(OED 1989) [[acknowledgment|alt=Acknowledgment]] is from the 1590s.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1481 – to recognize as valid.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1553 – to confess.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1590s – acknowledgment.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1667 – to thank for a gift.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1881 – to show recognition of someone.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To accept or [[admit]] the truth or existence of.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To recognize the authority or claims of.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To show that one has noticed or recognized someone.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To express thanks for.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To confirm receipt of: ''acknowledge a letter''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[acknowledgeable]]

+ * [[acknowledger]]

+ * [[preacknowledge]]

+ * [[reacknowledge]]

+ * [[acknowledged]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[acknowledgment]]

+ * [[knowledge]]

+ * [[know]]

+ * [[recognize]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}