acquisitio

Acquisitio is a Latin noun meaning acquisition, attainment, or procurement. It denotes the act or process of obtaining something, including property, rights, or knowledge. The term is formed from the verb acquirere “to acquire” with the abstract-noun suffix -tio, and is the source of the English word acquisition. The lexical form is typically found in classical and late antique Latin, and is cited in discussions of property transfer, possession, or intellectual attainments in Latin legal and philosophical writings.

Attestations and usage: In Roman law and medieval legal literature, acquisitio commonly appears in descriptions of how property or rights are acquired by means such as purchase, inheritance, or formal grant, and of the consequences for title or ownership. It may be used generically to refer to the process of acquiring knowledge or skills in Latin scholastic or rhetorical contexts, though more specialized terms are often preferred.

Modern usage: In modern English-language scholarship, acquisitio is uncommon outside discussions of Latin vocabulary. When the term is used, it is usually as a quotation of the Latin form, with acquisition as the translation. The word is of historical interest for studies of Roman law, Latin linguistics, or the Latin lexicon.

See also: Acquisition; Language acquisition; Usucapio.