acquaint + -ance

source: [あたしンちの母が知り合いのお母さんと世間話をしているGIF画像｜無料GIF画像検索 GIFMAGAZINE 1227808]

1. a person's knowledge or experience of something:

｟かたく｠ (学習･体験などによって得た) 【学問･芸術などに関する】知識, 心得 «with»

e.g. the students had little acquaintance with the language.

one's slight knowledge of or friendship with someone:

【人との】面識, 付き合い, 交遊 «with» (!具体例ではan ～; その際しばしば修飾語を伴う)

e.g. I renewed my acquaintance with Herbert

e.g. most men of her acquaintance were in uniform now.

2. a person one knows slightly, but who is not a close friend:

知り合い, 知人, 顔見知り, なじみ (!friendと違い, 強い信頼関係はない)

e.g. a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.

acquaintances considered collectively:

e.g. his extensive acquaintance included Oscar Wilde and Yeats.

meet someone for the first time and become only slightly familiar:

｟かたく｠ A〈人〉と知り合いになる

e.g. they are anxious to make your acquaintance.

acquaintanceship | əˈkwānt(ə)n(s)ˌSHip | noun

Middle English (in the sense ‘mutual knowledge, being acquainted’): from Old French acointance, from acointier ‘make known’ (see acquaint).