Verb

(acquir)

To get.

To gain, usually by one's own exertions; to get as one's own, as, to acquire a title, riches, knowledge, skill, good or bad habits.

* (Isaac Barrow) (1630-1677)

No virtue is acquired in an instant, but step by step.

* (William Blackstone) (1723-1780)

Descent is the title whereby a man, on the death of his ancestor, acquires his estate, by right of representation, as his heir at law.

*{{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Michael Arlen), chapter=3/19/2, title= “Piracy”: A Romantic Chronicle of These Days

, passage=Ivor had acquired more than a mile of fishing rights with the house?; he was not at all a good fisherman, but one must do something?; one generally, however, banged a ball with a squash-racket against a wall.}}

Verb

To declare or find not guilty; innocent.

* '>citation

To set free, release or discharge from an obligation, duty, liability, burden, or from an accusation or charge.

The jury acquitted the prisoner ''of'' the charge.

* 1775 , , The Duenna

His poverty, can you acquit him of that?

* 1837 , , “Lord Bacon” in The Edinburgh Review , July 1837

If he [Bacon] was convicted, it was because it was impossible to acquit him without offering the grossest outrage to justice and common sense.

(obsolete, rare) To pay for; to atone for

* , line 1071

Till life to death acquit my forced offence.

To discharge, as a claim or debt; to clear off; to pay off; to requite, to fulfill.

* , 1200

‘Aquyte him wel, for goddes love,’ quod he;

* 1640 , , Tasso

Midst foes (as champion of the faith) he ment / That palme or cypress should his painees acquite .

* 1836 , , Orations I-382

I admit it to be not so much the duty as the privilege of an American citizen to acquit this obligation to the memory of his fathers with discretion and generosity.

* 1844 , ” in Essays: second series

We see young men who owe us a new world, so readily and lavishly they promise, but they never acquit the debt; they die young and dodge the account: or if they live, they lose themselves in the crowd.

(reflexive) To clear one’s self.

* , III-ii

Pray God he may acquit him of suspicion!

(reflexive) To bear or conduct one’s self; to perform one’s part.

The soldier acquitted himself well in battle.

The orator acquitted himself very poorly.

* November 2 2014 , Daniel Taylor, " Sergio Agüero strike wins derby for Manchester City against 10-man United," guardian.co.uk

Van Gaal responded by replacing Adnan Januzaj with Carrick and, in fairness, the emergency centre-half did exceedingly well given that he has not played since May. McNair also acquitted himself well after Rojo was injured sliding into a challenge with Martín Demichelis

* 1766 , , The vicar of Wakefield , xiv

Though this was one of the first mercantile transactions of my life, yet I had no doubt about acquitting myself with reputation.

(obsolete) To release, set free, rescue.

* , I-vii-52

Till I have acquit your captive Knight.

(archaic)

* , I-iii

I am glad I am so acquit of this tinder box.