Friends and acquaintances (4)
I believe the answer is:
kith
'friends and acquaintances' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for kith that I've seen before include "Acquaintance" , "'... and kin, friends and relations (4)'" , "knowledge" , "Friends (archaic)" , "Friends and neighbours, not family" .)