acknowledgement
    n 1: the state or quality of being recognized or acknowledged;
         "the partners were delighted with the recognition of their
         work"; "she seems to avoid much in the way of recognition
         or acknowledgement of feminist work prior to her own" [syn:
         recognition, acknowledgment, acknowledgement]
    2: a statement acknowledging something or someone; "she must
       have seen him but she gave no sign of acknowledgment"; "the
       preface contained an acknowledgment of those who had helped
       her" [syn: acknowledgment, acknowledgement]

Acknowledgment \Ac*knowl"edg*ment\, Acknowledgement
\Ac*knowl"edge*ment\ ([a^]k*n[o^]l"[e^]j*ment), n.
   1. The act of acknowledging; admission; avowal; owning;
      confession. "An acknowledgment of fault." --Froude.
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   2. The act of owning or recognizing in a particular character
      or relationship; recognition as regards the existence,
      authority, truth, or genuineness; a statement
      acknowledging something or someone.
      [1913 Webster +WordNet 1.5]

            Immediately upon the acknowledgment of the Christian
            faith, the eunuch was baptized by Philip. --Hooker.
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   3. The owning of a benefit received; courteous recognition;
      the state or quality of being recognized or acknowledged;
      an expression of thanks. --Shak.

   Syn: recognition
        [1913 Webster +WordNet 1.5]

   4. Something given or done in return for a favor, message,
      etc. --Smollett.
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   5. A declaration or avowal of one's own act, to give it legal
      validity; as, the acknowledgment of a deed before a proper
      officer. Also, the certificate of the officer attesting
      such declaration.
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   Acknowledgment money, in some parts of England, a sum paid
      by copyhold tenants, on the death of their landlords, as
      an acknowledgment of their new lords. --Cowell.
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   Syn: Confession; concession; recognition; admission; avowal;
        recognizance.
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