different between knack vs accomplishment

English

Etymology

Use as "special skill" from 1580. Possibly from 14th century Middle English krak (“a sharp blow”), knakke, knakken, from Middle Low German, by onomatopoeia. Latter cognate to German knacken (“to crack”). See also crack.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /næk/
• Audio (UK)

• Rhymes: -æk

Noun

knack (plural knacks)

1. A readiness in performance; aptness at doing something. [from 1580]

   Synonyms: skill, facility, dexterity

   • 2005, Plato, Sophist. Translation by Lesley Brown. 254a.

     The sophist runs for cover to the darkness of what is not and attaches himself to it by some knack of his;
2. A petty contrivance; a toy.

   Synonyms: plaything, knickknack, toy

3. Something performed, or to be done, requiring aptness and dexterity. [from mid 14th c.]

   Synonyms: trick, device

Derived terms

• knackless

Translations

Verb

knack (third-person singular simple present knacks, present participle knacking, simple past and past participle knacked)

1. (obsolete, Britain, dialect) To crack; to make a sharp, abrupt noise; to chink.
2. To speak affectedly.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Halliwell to this entry?)

Translations

References

English

Etymology

• First attested in the early 15th century.
• (completes, perfects, equips): First attested around 1600.
• accomplish +? -ment
• Borrowed from French accomplissement, from accomplir

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?.?k?m.pl??.m?nt/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?.?k?m.pl??.m?nt/

Noun

accomplishment (countable and uncountable, plural accomplishments)

1. The act of accomplishing; completion; fulfilment.

2. That which completes, perfects, or equips thoroughly; acquirement; attainment; that which constitutes excellence of mind, or elegance of manners, acquired by education or training.
3. Something accomplished; an achievement.
4. (grammar, semantics) The lexical aspect (aktionsart) of verbs or predicates that change over time until a natural end point.

Translations

Further reading

• accomplishment in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.