acknowledge

verb

1. (transitive)To admit the knowledge of; to recognize as a fact or truth; to declare one's belief in.

   “to acknowledge the being of a god”

   “I acknowledge my transgressions.”

   “[T]he charge of my moſt curious, and coſtly ingredients fraide, amounting to ſome ſeaventeene thouſand crovvnes, a trifle in reſpect of health, vvriting your noble name in my Catalogue, I ſhall acknovvledge my ſelfe amply ſatisfi'd.”

   “For ends generally acknowledged to be good.”

   “[N]ow ſuch a liue vngodly, vvithout a care of doing the wil of the Lord (though they profeſſe him in their mouths, yea though they beleeue and acknowledge all the Articles of the Creed, yea haue knowledge of the Scripturs) yet if they liue vngodly, they deny God, and therefore ſhal be denied, […]”

2. (transitive)To own or recognize in a particular quality, character or relationship; to admit the claims or authority of; to give recognition to.

   “By my soul, I'll ne'er acknowledge thee.”

   “In all thy ways acknowledge Him.”

   “Such an episode in the Island's grand naval story her naval historians naturally abridge; one of them (G.P.R. James) candidly acknowledging that fain would he pass it over did not "impartiality forbid fastidiousness."”

   “He is calmed down only when the bearer of the beard “unbeards,” and acknowledges himself as Asher's old pal: […]”

3. (transitive)To be grateful of (e.g. a benefit or a favour)

   “to acknowledge a favor”

   “They his gifts acknowledged none.”

4. (transitive)To report (the receipt of a message to its sender).

   “This is to acknowledge your kind invitation to participate in the upcoming debate.”

5. (transitive)To own as genuine or valid; to assent to (a legal instrument) to give it validity; to avow or admit in legal form.

   “One who has been sheriff may acknowledge a deed executed by him while in office.”