acquaintance

Etymology

From Middle English aqueyntaunce, from Anglo-Norman aquaintaunce, aqueintance, Old French acointance (“friendship, familiarity”), from Old French acointier (“to acquaint”). Compare French accointance. Morphologically acquaint + -ance.

noun

1. (uncountable) A state of being acquainted with a person; originally indicating friendship, intimacy, but now suggesting a slight knowledge less deep than that of friendship; acquaintanceship.
   I know of the man; but have no acquaintance with him.
   Contract no friendſhip, or even acquaintance, with a guileful man : he reſembles a coal, which when hot burneth the hand, and when cold blacketh it. 1799, “Hito'pade'sa”, in William Jones, transl., The Works, volume 6, page 22
2. (countable) A person or persons with whom one is acquainted.
   Montgomery was an old acquaintance of Ferguson. 1848, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter XVI, in The History Of England From the Accession of James II
3. (uncountable) Such people collectively; one's circle of acquaintances (with plural concord).
4. Personal knowledge (with a specific subject etc.).