2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Acknowledge  \Ac*knowl"edge\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Acknowledged}; 
  p.  pr  &  vb  n.  {Acknowledging}.]  [Prob.  fr  pref.  a-  +  the 
  verb  knowledge.  See  {Knowledge},  and  cf  {Acknow}.] 
  1.  To  of  or  admit  the  knowledge  of  to  recognize  as  a  fact  or 
  truth;  to  declare  one's  belief  in  as  to  acknowledge  the 
  being  of  a  God. 
 
  I  acknowledge  my  transgressions.  --Ps.  li  3. 
 
  For  ends  generally  acknowledged  to  be  good. 
  --Macaulay. 
 
  2.  To  own  or  recognize  in  a  particular  character  or 
  relationship;  to  admit  the  claims  or  authority  of  to  give 
  recognition  to 
 
  In  all  thy  ways  acknowledge  Him  --Prov.  iii. 
  6. 
 
  By  my  soul,  I'll  ne'er  acknowledge  thee.  --Shak. 
 
  3.  To  own  with  gratitude  or  as  a  benefit  or  an  obligation; 
  as  to  acknowledge  a  favor,  the  receipt  of  a  letter. 
 
  They  his  gifts  acknowledged  none.  --Milton. 
 
  4.  To  own  as  genuine;  to  assent  to  as  a  legal  instrument,  to 
  give  it  validity;  to  avow  or  admit  in  legal  form  as  to 
  acknowledgea  deed. 
 
  Syn:  To  avow;  proclaim;  recognize;  own  admit  allow 
  concede;  confess. 
 
  Usage:  {Acknowledge},  {Recognize}.  Acknowledge  is  opposed  to 
  keep  back  or  conceal,  and  supposes  that  something  had 
  been  previously  known  to  us  (though  perhaps  not  to 
  others)  which  we  now  feel  bound  to  lay  open  or  make 
  public.  Thus  a  man  acknowledges  a  secret  marriage; 
  one  who  has  done  wrong  acknowledges  his  fault;  and 
  author  acknowledges  his  obligation  to  those  who  have 
  aided  him  we  acknowledge  our  ignorance.  Recognize 
  supposes  that  we  have  either  forgotten  or  not  had  the 
  evidence  of  a  thing  distinctly  before  our  minds,  but 
  that  now  we  know  it  (as  it  were)  anew,  or  receive  and 
  admit  in  on  the  ground  of  the  evidence  it  brings 
  Thus  we  recognize  a  friend  after  a  long  absence.  We 
  recognize  facts,  principles,  truths,  etc.,  when  their 
  evidence  is  brought  up  fresh  to  the  mind;  as  bad  men 
  usually  recognize  the  providence  of  God  in  seasons  of 
  danger.  A  foreign  minister,  consul,  or  agent,  of  any 
  kind  is  recognized  on  the  ground  of  his  producing 
  satisfactory  credentials.  See  also  {Confess}. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  acknowledged 
  adj  1:  recognized  or  made  known  or  admitted;  "the  acknowledged 
  leader  of  the  community";  "a  woman  of  acknowledged 
  accomplishments";  "his  acknowledged  error"  [ant:  {unacknowledged}] 
  2:  generally  accepted 

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