ACQUIREMENT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does acquirement mean? 

• ACQUIREMENT (noun)
  The noun ACQUIREMENT has 1 sense:

1. an ability that has been acquired by training

  Familiarity information: ACQUIREMENT used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ACQUIREMENT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An ability that has been acquired by training

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

accomplishment; acquirement; acquisition; attainment; skill

Hypernyms ("acquirement" is a kind of...):

ability; power (possession of the qualities (especially mental qualities) required to do something or get something done)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "acquirement"):

craft; craftsmanship; workmanship (skill in an occupation or trade)

horsemanship (skill in handling and riding horses)

literacy (the ability to read and write)

marksmanship (skill in shooting)

mastership (the skill of a master)

mixology (skill in preparing mixed drinks)

numeracy (skill with numbers and mathematics)

oarsmanship (skill as an oarsman)

salesmanship (skill in selling; skill in persuading people to buy)

seamanship (skill in sailing)

showmanship (the ability to present something (especially theatrical shows) in an attractive manner)

soldiering; soldiership (skills that are required for the life of soldier)

swordsmanship (skill in fencing)

 Context examples 

By all which acquirements, I should be a living treasure of knowledge and wisdom, and certainly become the oracle of the nation.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

The affection of the whole family, the warm attachment of Miss Campbell in particular, was the more honourable to each party from the circumstance of Jane's decided superiority both in beauty and acquirements.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Her beauty and acquirements had held but a second place.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

One man’s life or death were but a small price to pay for the acquirement of the knowledge which I sought, for the dominion I should acquire and transmit over the elemental foes of our race.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

“Well, in a way there has come to be a sort of connection,” I answered unsurprised by this time at such gaps in his vocabulary, which, like his knowledge, was the acquirement of a self-read, self-educated man, whom no one had directed in his studies, and who had thought much and talked little or not at all.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

If J.E., who advertised in the —shire Herald of last Thursday, possesses the acquirements mentioned, and if she is in a position to give satisfactory references as to character and competency, a situation can be offered her where there is but one pupil, a little girl, under ten years of age; and where the salary is thirty pounds per annum.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

Such were the counsels by which Mrs. Norris assisted to form her nieces' minds; and it is not very wonderful that, with all their promising talents and early information, they should be entirely deficient in the less common acquirements of self-knowledge, generosity and humility.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Miss Temple, through all changes, had thus far continued superintendent of the seminary: to her instruction I owed the best part of my acquirements; her friendship and society had been my continual solace; she had stood me in the stead of mother, governess, and, latterly, companion.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)