The word "acquire" is spelled with the letter "q" which may seem unusual as it is often followed by the letter "u". However, in this case, the "q" is followed by the vowel sound /aɪ/ represented by the letters "i" and "e". The stress falls on the second syllable, where the "i" is pronounced as /aɪ/ and the "e" as /ə/. The phonetic transcription of "acquire" is /əˈkwaɪər/. It means to gain or obtain something through one's own efforts.
Acquire (verb): To acquire means to obtain or gain possession or control of something, especially through effort or action.
When a person acquires something, they obtain it by purchasing, receiving, or achieving it through various means. It involves the process of adding something to one's own possessions or knowledge.
The term "acquire" encompasses both physical and intellectual acquisitions. For example, acquiring a new house implies gaining possession or ownership of the property, while acquiring a new skill refers to learning or developing that skill through practice and effort.
Acquiring something often requires active pursuit or intentional actions. It may involve seeking out opportunities, negotiating, or investing resources to obtain the desired item or knowledge. For instance, a business may acquire another company through a merger, which involves negotiations and agreement between the two entities.
Acquiring can also refer to the process of gaining or learning something intangible, such as information or a language. For instance, students in school acquire knowledge and skills through studying and learning from teachers.
Overall, the term 'acquire' denotes the act of gaining possession, control, or knowledge through purposeful effort, action, or exchange. It is a fundamental process in personal and professional development, growth, and expansion in both material and intellectual realms.
To gain possession of something as one's own, as money or knowledge; to earn or attain.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word acquire originated from the Middle English word acqueren, which was derived from the Old French word acquerre. This Old French term was a combination of the prefix a- meaning to or towards and the verb cuerre meaning to seek, ultimately coming from the Latin word quaerere with the same meaning. So, the etymology of acquire can be traced back to the Latin term quaerere, meaning to seek, gain, or obtain.