Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2021 December 7

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December 7

Meaning of "subsequent acquisition".

From here, Popular opinion was that the Screwjob and WCW's subsequent acquisition of Hart were death blows for the WWF. 

What does "subsequent acquisition" mean? I Google this term, this page says that this term belongs to law. Rizosome (talk) 00:25, 7 December 2021 (UTC)

I think it's straightforwardly compositional. It's an acquisition that was subsequent. Years ago, I acquired a copy of a blue-covered grammar textbook. Later, I acquired a copy of its greyish-covered second edition. That subsequent acquisition occurred the day before yesterday. -- Hoary (talk) 00:56, 7 December 2021 (UTC)

Rather than Googling words you don't understand, I would suggest you consult a dictionary, such as Wiktionary.--Shantavira|^{feed me} 09:30, 7 December 2021 (UTC)

Well, idiomatic phrases can be a problem. Though Wiktionary does try to list those to some extent.  Card Zero  (talk) 10:47, 7 December 2021 (UTC)

As used here, no legal meaning is intended. Each of the two words should simply be understood on its own. A "good decision" is a decision that is good. A "large mountain" is a mountain that is large. A "subsequent acquisition" is an acquisition that is subsequent – in the context, subsequent to the Montreal Screwjob.  --Lambiam 09:53, 7 December 2021 (UTC)

I got the meaning from this lines: It's an acquisition that was subsequent. – in the context, subsequent to the Montreal Screwjob. Rizosome (talk) 00:10, 8 December 2021 (UTC)

Resolved