Acquisitions

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The process of gaining possession of something ; the item or asset that has been obtained or gained
2. The act of acquiring something, such as knowledge or property ; an object or asset received through acquisition
3. The action of obtaining or securing something ; the thing acquired through such an action

Etymology: The plural "acquisitions" is simply the form of "acquisition," the noun for something gained or obtained, and it is usually used for the things a person or organisation has newly gained, such as items bought or taken into a collection. The plural keeps that sense of many separate things added over time. The singular has a longer pedigree. It came into Middle English from Old French "acquisicion," which in turn came from Latin "acquisitio," a noun built on "acquirere," meaning to get, to seek, or to gain. Latin formed that verb from "ad," meaning "to," and "quaerere," meaning "to seek," so an acquisition is, at root, something sought out and brought in. English "acquire" follows the same Latin base, and "-ition" is the suffix that turns the verb into the noun.

Synonyms: purchases, procurements

Antonyms: losses, disposals