Defn: One who acquires.
ACQUIST
Ac*quist", n. Etym: [Cf. Acquest.]
Defn: Acquisition; gain. Milton.
ACQUIT
Ac*quit", p. p.
Defn: Acquitted; set free; rid of. [Archaic] Shak.
ACQUIT
Ac*quit", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Acquitted; p. pr. & vb. n. Acquitting.]
Etym: [OE. aquiten, OF. aquiter, F. acquitter; (L. ad) + OF. quiter,
F. quitter, to quit. See Quit, and cf. Acquiet.]
1. To discharge, as a claim or debt; to clear off; to pay off; to requite. A responsibility that can never be absolutely acquitted. I. Taylor.
2. To pay for; to atone for. [Obs.] Shak.
3. To set free, release or discharge from an obligation, duty, liability, burden, or from an accusation or charge; — now followed by of before the charge, formerly by from; as, the jury acquitted the prisoner; we acquit a man of evil intentions.
4. Reflexively: (a) To clear one's self.k. (b) To bear or conduct one's self; to perform one's part; as, the soldier acquitted himself well in battle; the orator acquitted himself very poorly.