acquest

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/əˈkwɛst/

noun

Acquisition; the thing gained.

OriginMiddle English aqueste ← Old French aquest ← Vulgar Latin *acquaesitum →
RareScrabble 18
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Meanings

nounacquest (countable and uncountable, plural acquests)

plural acquests

  1. countablerareuncountableAcquisition; the thing gained.

    the Palatinate , it is a maxim in state , that all countries of new acquest, till they be settled , are rather matters of burden than of strength

    a. 1627 (date written), Francis [Bacon], “Considerations Touching a Warre with Spaine. […]”, in William Rawley, editor, Certaine Miscellany Works of the Right Honourable Francis Lo. Verulam, Viscount S. Alban. […], London: […] I. Hauiland for Humphrey Robinson, […], published 1629, →OCLC
  2. countableuncountablelawProperty acquired by purchase, gift, or otherwise than by inheritance.

Origin

  1. Latinquaerere“seek”
  2. Vulgar Latin*acquaesitum
  3. Old Frenchaquest
  4. Middle Englishaqueste
  5. Englishacquest

From Middle English aqueste (later conflating with enqueste), from Old French aquest, (French acquêt), from Vulgar Latin *acquaesitum, ultimately from Latin quaerere (“seek”). Doublet of acquis.

More words from Middle English, Old French, Vulgar Latin

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

acquest. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/acquest

MLA

“acquest.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/acquest. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “acquest,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/acquest.

Source: acquest on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.