Emily Dickinson Lexicon

AC-KNOWL'EDGE, v.t. [aknol'edge; ad and knowledge. See Know.]

1. To own, avow or admit to be true, by a declaration of assent; as, to acknowledge the being of a God.
2. To own or notice with particular regard. In all thy ways acknowledge God. – Prov. iii. Isa. xxxiii.
3. To own or confess, as implying a consciousness of guilt. I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. – Ps. li. and xxxii.
4. To own with assent, to admit or receive with approbation. He that acknowledgeth the son, hath the father also. – 1 John ii. 2 Tim. ii.
5. To own with gratitude; to own as a benefit; as, to acknowledge a favor, or the receipt of a gift. They his gifts acknowledged not. – Milton.
6. To own or admit to belong to; as, to acknowledge a son.
7. To receive with respect. All that see them shall acknowledge that they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed. – Isa. vi. 1 Cor. xvi.
8. To own, avow or assent to an act in a legal form, to give it validity; as, to acknowledge a deed before competent authority.