n. The quality of being acquirable; attainableness. [ R. ] Paley. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being acquired. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Acquired p. pr. & vb. n. Acquiring ] [ L. acquirere, acquisitum; ad + quarere to seek for. In OE. was a verb aqueren, fr. the same, through OF. aquerre. See Quest.. ] To gain, usually by one's own exertions; to get as one's own; as, to acquire a title, riches, knowledge, skill, good or bad habits. [ 1913 Webster ]

No virtue is acquired in an instant, but step by step. Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

Descent is the title whereby a man, on the death of his ancestor, acquires his estate, by right of representation, as his heir at law. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To obtain; gain; attain; procure; win; earn; secure. See Obtain. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. 1 (Biol.) gotten through environmental forces. Contrasted with inherited. acquired characteristics cannot be passed on noninheritable (vs. inheritable), nonheritable
Syn. -- nurtural [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. The act of acquiring, or that which is acquired; attainment. “Rules for the acquirement of a taste.” Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

His acquirements by industry were . . . enriched and enlarged by many excellent endowments of nature. Hayward. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Acquisition, Acquirement. Acquirement is used in opposition to a natural gift or talent; as, eloquence, and skill in music and painting, are acquirements; genius is the gift or endowment of nature. It denotes especially personal attainments, in opposition to material or external things gained, which are more usually called acquisitions; but this distinction is not always observed. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A person who acquires. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Acquirement. [ Obs. ] Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A pimp; a kept gallant. [ Obs. ] Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

See Chipmunk. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. an alcoholic beverage containing rum and lime or lemon juice, usually mixed with a fruit juice or fruit extract and often blended with crushed ice; as, a strawberry daiquiri.
Syn. -- rum cocktail. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

v. i. & t. See Inquire. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Inquirer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Inquiry. [ 1913 Webster ]

pos>a. [ Equi- + radical. ] Equally radical. [ R. ] Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Equi- + L. rota wheel. ] Having wheels of the same size or diameter; having equal rotation. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. escuyer, escuier, properly, a shield-bearer, F. écuyer shield-bearer, armor-bearer, squire of a knight, esquire, equerry, rider, horseman, LL. scutarius shield-bearer, fr. L. scutum shield, akin to Gr. &unr_; skin, hide, from a root meaning to cover; prob. akin to E. hide to cover. See Hide to cover, and cf. Equerry, Escutcheon. ] Originally, a shield-bearer or armor-bearer, an attendant on a knight; in modern times, a title of dignity next in degree below knight and above gentleman; also, a title of office and courtesy; -- often shortened to squire. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In England, the title of esquire belongs by right of birth to the eldest sons of knights and their eldest sons in perpetual succession; to the eldest sons of younger sons of peers and their eldest sons in perpetual succession. It is also given to sheriffs, to justices of the peace while in commission, to those who bear special office in the royal household, to counselors at law, bachelors of divinity, law, or physic, and to others. In the United States the title is commonly given in courtesy to lawyers and justices of the peace, and is often used in the superscription of letters instead of Mr. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Esquired p. pr. & vb. n. Esquiring. ] To wait on as an esquire or attendant in public; to attend. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ L. exquirere. See Exquisite. ] To search into or out. [ Obs. ] Chapman. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Fakir. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Zool.) One of a group of squirrels, of the genus Glaucomys (formerly Pteromus and Sciuropterus [ 1913 Webster ]), especially Glaucomys volans and Glaucomys sabrinus, having parachute-like folds of skin extending from the fore to the hind legs, which enable them to make very long, gliding leaps. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

☞ The species of Pteromys are large, with bushy tails, and inhabit southern Asia and the East Indies; those of Sciuropterus are smaller, with flat tails, and inhabit the northern parts of Europe, Asia, and America. The American species (Sciuropterus volucella) is also called Assapan. The Australian flying squirrels, or flying phalangers, are marsupials. See Flying phalanger (above). [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. OF. enquerable. ] Capable of being inquired into; subject or liable to inquisition or inquest. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Inquiry. [ Obs. ] Latimer. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Inquired p. pr. & vb. n. Inquiring. ] [ OE. enqueren, inqueren, OF. enquerre, F. enquérir, L. inquirere, inquisitum; pref. in- in + quarere to seek. See Quest a seeking, and cf. Inquiry. ] [ Written also enquire. ] 1. To ask a question; to seek for truth or information by putting queries. [ 1913 Webster ]

We will call the damsel, and inquire. Gen. xxiv. 57. [ 1913 Webster ]

Then David inquired of the Lord yet again. And the Lord answered him. 1 Sam. xxiii. 4. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To seek to learn anything by recourse to the proper means of knowledge; to make examination. [ 1913 Webster ]

And inquire
Gladly into the ways of God with man. Miltom. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ This word is followed by of before the person asked; as, to inquire of a neighbor. It is followed by concerning, after, or about, before the subject of inquiry; as, his friends inquired about or concerning his welfare. “Thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.” Eccl. vii. 10. It is followed by into when search is made for particular knowledge or information; as, to inquire into the cause of a sudden death. It is followed by for or after when a place or person is sought, or something is missing. “Inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus.” Acts ix. 11. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To ask about; to seek to know by asking; to make examination or inquiry respecting. [ 1913 Webster ]

Having thus at length inquired the truth concerning law and dispense. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

And all obey and few inquire his will. Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To call or name. [ Obs. ] Spenser.

Syn. -- To ask; question. See Question. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. inquirens, p. pr. ] Making inquiry; inquiring; questioning. [ Obs. ] Shenstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Written also enquirer. ] One who inquires or examines; questioner; investigator. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

Expert inquirers after truth. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Given to inquiry; disposed to investigate causes; curious; as, an inquiring mind. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an inquiring manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Inquiries [ See Inquire. ] [ Written also enquiry. ] 1. The act of inquiring; a seeking for information by asking questions; interrogation; a question or questioning. [ 1913 Webster ]

He could no path nor track of foot descry,
Nor by inquiry learn, nor guess by aim. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

The men which were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate. Acts x. 17. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Search for truth, information, or knowledge; examination into facts or principles; research; investigation; as, physical inquiries. [ 1913 Webster ]

All that is wanting to the perfection of this art will undoubtedly be found, if able men . . . will make inquiry into it. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Court of inquiry. See under Court. --
Writ of inquiry, a writ issued in certain actions at law, where the defendant has suffered judgment to pass against him by default, in order to ascertain and assess the plaintiff's damages, where they can not readily be ascertained by mere calculation. Burrill.

Syn. -- Interrogation; interrogatory; question; query; scrutiny; investigation; research; examination. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ n., or }. [ Prob. fr. a native name. ] (Bot.) The seed of the wild licorice (Abrus precatorius) used by the people of India for beads in rosaries and necklaces, as a standard weight, etc.; -- called also jumble bead. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. A common black-striped reddish-brown ground squirrel (Citellus lateralis) of western North America, resembling a large chipmunk. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. To require beforehand. [ 1913 Webster ]

Some things are prerequired of us. Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. cuir bouilli. ] Leather softened by boiling so as to take any required shape. Upon drying, it becomes exceedingly hard, and hence was formerly used for armor. [ Obs. ] “His jambeux were of quyrboilly.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Choir. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

A quire of such enticing birds. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To sing in concert. [ R. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. quaer, quair, OF. quayer, cayer, caïer, F. cahier, a book of loose sheets, a quarter of a quire, LL. quaternus, quaternum, sheets of paper packed together, properly, four together, fr. L. quaterni four each, by fours, quattuor four. See Four and cf. Cahier. ] A collection of twenty-four sheets of paper of the same size and quality, unfolded or having a single fold; one twentieth of a ream. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. Quirinalis, fr. Quirinus, a name of Romulus. ] Of, pertaining to, or designating, the hill Collis Quirinalis, now Monte Quirinale (one of the seven hills of Rome), or a modern royal place situated upon it. Also used substantively. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ See Quire, Chorister. ] A chorister. See Chorister. [ R. ] Thomson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. quiritatio, fr. quiritare to raise a plaintive cry, v. freq. fr. queri to complain. ] A crying for help. [ Obs. ] Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One of the Quirites. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ L., fr. Cures, a Sabine town. ] (Rom. Antiq.) Roman citizens. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ After the Sabines and Romans had united themselves into one community, under Romulus, the name of Quirites was taken in addition to that of Romani, the Romans calling themselves in a civil capacity Quirites, while in a political and military capacity they retained the name of Romani. Andrews. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Written also querk. ] [ Cf. W. chwiori to turn briskly, or E. queer. ] 1. A sudden turn; a starting from the point or line; hence, an artful evasion or subterfuge; a shift; a quibble; as, the quirks of a pettifogger. “Some quirk or . . . evasion.” Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

We ground the justification of our nonconformity on dark subtilties and intricate quirks. Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A fit or turn; a short paroxysm; a caprice. [ Obs. ] “Quirks of joy and grief.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A smart retort; a quibble; a shallow conceit. [ 1913 Webster ]

Some odd quirks and remnants of wit. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. An irregular air; as, light quirks of music. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Building) A piece of ground taken out of any regular ground plot or floor, so as to make a court, yard, etc.; -- sometimes written quink. Gwilt. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Arch.) A small channel, deeply recessed in proportion to its width, used to insulate and give relief to a convex rounded molding. [ 1913 Webster ]

Quirk molding, a bead between two quirks. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having, or formed with, a quirk or quirks. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Consisting of quirks; resembling a quirk. Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Full of quirks; tricky; as, a quirky lawyer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. & v. See Querl. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Tamil kīrippi&lsdot_;&lsdot_;ai. ] (Zool.) The Indian ferret. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A rawhide whip plaited with two thongs of buffalo hide. T. Roosevelt. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being required; proper to be required. Sir M. Hale. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Required p. pr. & vb. n. Requiring. ] [ OE. requeren, requiren, OF. requerre, F. requ&unr_;rir; L. pref. re- re- + quaerere to ask; cf. L. requirere. See Query, and cf. Request, Requisite. ] 1. To demand; to insist upon having; to claim as by right and authority; to exact; as, to require the surrender of property. [ 1913 Webster ]

Shall I say to Caesar
What you require of him? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

By nature did what was by law required. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To demand or exact as indispensable; to need. [ 1913 Webster ]

Just gave what life required, and gave no more. Goldsmith. [ 1913 Webster ]

The two last [ biographies ] require to be particularly noticed. J. A. Symonds. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To ask as a favor; to request. [ 1913 Webster ]

I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way. Ezra viii. 22. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To claim; exact; enjoin; prescribe; direct; order; demand; need. [ 1913 Webster ]