Acknowledging

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  acknowledge \ac*knowl"edge\ ([a^]k*n[o^]l"[e^]j), v. t. [imp. &
     p. p. {acknowledged} ([a^]k*n[o^]l"[e^]jd); p. pr. & vb. n.
     {acknowledging} ([a^]k*n[o^]l"[e^]j*[i^]ng).] [Prob. fr.
     pref. a- + the verb knowledge. See {Knowledge}, and cf.
     {Acknow}.]
     1. To own or admit the knowledge of; to recognize as a fact


        or truth; to declare one's belief in; as, to acknowledge
        the being of a God.
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              I acknowledge my transgressions.      --Ps. li. 3.
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              For ends generally acknowledged to be good.
                                                    --Macaulay.
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     2. To own or recognize in a particular character or
        relationship; to admit the claims or authority of; to give
        recognition to.
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              In all thy ways acknowledge Him.      --Prov. iii.
                                                    6.
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              By my soul, I'll ne'er acknowledge thee. --Shak.
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     3. To own with gratitude or as a benefit or an obligation;
        as, to acknowledge a favor, the receipt of a letter.
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              They his gifts acknowledged none.     --Milton.
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     4. To own as genuine; to assent to, as a legal instrument, to
        give it validity; to avow or admit in legal form; as, to
        acknowledge a deed.
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     Syn: To avow; proclaim; recognize; own; admit; allow;
          concede; confess.
  
     Usage: {Acknowledge}, {Recognize}. Acknowledge is opposed to
            keep back, or conceal, and supposes that something had
            been previously known to us (though perhaps not to
            others) which we now feel bound to lay open or make
            public. Thus, a man acknowledges a secret marriage;
            one who has done wrong acknowledges his fault; and
            author acknowledges his obligation to those who have
            aided him; we acknowledge our ignorance. Recognize
            supposes that we have either forgotten or not had the
            evidence of a thing distinctly before our minds, but
            that now we know it (as it were) anew, or receive and
            admit in on the ground of the evidence it brings.
            Thus, we recognize a friend after a long absence. We
            recognize facts, principles, truths, etc., when their
            evidence is brought up fresh to the mind; as, bad men
            usually recognize the providence of God in seasons of
            danger. A foreign minister, consul, or agent, of any
            kind, is recognized on the ground of his producing
            satisfactory credentials. See also {Confess}.
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