Etymology Dictionary

ACKNOWLEDGE,  to confess, own the knowledge of.  (E.)  Common in Shakespeare.  M.E. knowlechen, to acknowledge.  α. The prefixed a- is due to the curious fact that there was a M.E. verb a-knowen with the same sense; ex. 'To mee wold shee neuer aknow That any man for any meede Neighed her body,' Merline, 901, in Percy Folio MS., i. 450.  This aknowen is the A.S. oncnáwan, to perceive.  Hence the prefixed a- stands for A.S. on.   β. The verb knowlechen is common, as e.g. in Wyclif; 'he knowelechide and denyede not, and he knowlechide for I am not Christ;' St. John, i. 20.   It appears early in the thirteenth century, in Hali Meidenhad, p. 9; Legend of St. Katharine, l. 1352.  Formed directly from the sb. knowleche, now spelt knowledge.  See Knowledge.  Der. acknowledg-ment, a hybrid form, with F. suffix.