acquisire

Acquisire is a transitive Italian verb meaning to obtain or come into possession of something, and also to learn or assimilate knowledge, skills, or abilities. It can refer to tangible goods, rights, or intangible gains such as information or competencies. In everyday language it is used broadly, while in legal, business, and educational contexts it often denotes the process of gaining something, whether through purchase, learning, or development.

Etymology and related forms: Acquisire derives from the Latin acquirere, formed from ad- (“toward”) and quaerere (“to seek”). The verb belongs to the third conjugation in -ire and follows an -isc- pattern in certain present-tense forms. The present indicative forms include io acquisisco, tu acquisisci, lui/lei acquisisce; noi acquisiamo, voi acquisite, loro acquisiscono. The infinitive is acquisire; the past participle is acquisito; the gerund is acquisendo. The noun form is acquisizione, meaning acquisition or attainment.

Usage notes: Acquisire is common in many domains. In business and law it describes obtaining ownership or control, such as acquisire una quota, acquisire un’azienda, or acquisire diritti. In education and professional development, it is used with knowledge and skills, e.g., acquisire competenze, acquisire una lingua. In information technology, the term appears in the phrase acquisizione dati (data acquisition). Its nuance ranges from passive receipt of ownership to active development of capabilities.

See also: acquisizione, acquisitore (rare/technical), acquisito. In English, the cognate is acquire, used with similar senses of obtaining, learning, or gaining possession.