Definition of the word acquainted

The word "acquainted" is a combination of the Latin prefix "ad-" (meaning "to" or "towards") and the Latin root "cognoscere" (meaning "to know"). The Latin word "adcognitum" was used to describe something or someone that was "known to" or "familiar with" someone else. This word evolved into the Old French word "acoint" in the Middle Ages, which then made its way into Middle English as "acointede." The spelling of the word changed to "acquainted" during the early Modern English period, as the letters "qu" replaced the "c" and "ight" replaced the "t" in the Middle English version. Today, "acquainted" is commonly used to describe a person's level of familiarity or knowledge about someone or something.