(uncountable) Such people collectively; one's circle of acquaintances (with plural concord).[from 15th c.]
1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “The Author Gives Some Account of Himself and Family, His First Inducements to Travel.[…]”, inTravels into Several Remote Nations of the World.[…][Gulliver’s Travels], volume I, London:[…]Benj[amin] Motte,[…],→OCLC, part I (A Voyage to Lilliput),page 3:
Having therefore conſulted with my Wife, and ſome of myAcquaintance, I determined to go again to Sea.
Their mother[…] was busy in the mean time in keeping up her connections, as she termed a numerousacquaintance, lest her girls should want a proper introduction into the great world.
Personalknowledge (with a specific subject etc.).[from 16th c.]
Synonym notes: The wordsacquaintance,familiarity, andintimacy now mark different degrees of closeness in social intercourse.Acquaintance arises from occasional intercourse or interaction; as, "our acquaintance has been a brief one". We can speak of a slight or an intimate acquaintance.Familiarity is the result of continued acquaintance. It springs from persons being frequently together, so as to wear off all restraint and reserve; as, "the familiarity of old companions".Intimacy is the result of close connection, and the freest interchange of thought; as, "the intimacy of established friendship".
