acquit

Etymology

From Middle English aquī̆ten (“to give in return; to pay, repay; to redeem (a pledge, security), to make good (a promise); to make amends; to relieve of an obligation; to acquit, clear of a charge; to free; to deprive of; to do one's part, acquit oneself; to act, behave (in a certain way)”), from Old French aquiter (“to act, do”) and Medieval Latin acquitāre (“to settle a debt”), from ad- (“prefix meaning ‘to’”) + quitare (“to free”), equivalent to a- + quit. See quit and compare acquiet.

verb

1. (transitive) To declare or find innocent or not guilty.
   [W]hen God ſaith of himſelfe, that he is one who acquiting will not acquite the wicked, his meaning is, that whatſoeuer may be ſuppoſed becauſe of his patience, yet he will not fully and finally diſcharge thoſe who goe on ſtill in their vngodly courſes, and preſume vpon his Mercy, without repentance. 1619, Samuel Hieron, “[The Back-parts of Iehovah.] The Fourth Sermon.”, in The Sermons of Master Samvel Hieron,[…], London: Printed by Iohn Legatt, published 1620, →OCLC, page 188
   But gently could his passion entertaine, / Though she Love's princesse, he a lowly swaine. / First of his bold intrusion she acquites him, / Then to her service (happy Boy!) admits him, / And, like another Love, with bow and quiver fits him. 1628, Phineas Fletcher (falsely attributed to Edmund Spenser), Brittain’s Ida. Written by that Renowned Poët, Edmond Spencer, London: Printed [by Nicholas Okes] for Thomas Walkley,[…], →OCLC; republished in Alexander B[alloch] Grosart, editor, The Poems of Phineas Fletcher, B.D., Rector of Hilgay, Norfolk: […] In Four Volumes (The Fuller Worthies’ Library), volume I, [s.l.]: Printed for private circulation, 1869, →OCLC, canto IV, stanza 8, page 72
   If he Francis Bacon] was convicted, it was because it was impossible to acquit him without offering the grossest outrage to justice and common sense. 1837 July, [Thomas Babington Macaulay], “Art. I.—The Works of Francis Bacon, Lord Chancellor of England. A New Edition. By Basil Montagu, Esq. Sixteen Vols. 8vo. London: 1825–1834. [book review]”, in The Edinburgh Review, or Critical Journal, volume LXVI, number CXXXII, Edinburgh: Printed by Ballantyne and Company; for Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, Green, and Longman, London; and Adam and Charles Black, Edinburgh, →OCLC, page 59
   The new accusation brought by Urban Pope Urban IV] against Manfred of murdering his sister-in-law's embassador—it may be observed that, tacitly, he acquits him of parricide, fratricide, and nepoticide—requires a little explanation. 1856, Mrs. William Busk, “Manfred”, in Mediæval Popes, Emperors, Kings, and Crusaders: Or, Germany, Italy and Palestine, from A.D. 1125 to A.D. 1268, volume IV, London: Hookham and Sons,[…], →OCLC, page 294
   "You're acquitted, and I'm sorry about the new dent." 2009, Jeph Jacques, Questionable Content (webcomic), Number 1457: His First Instinct Upon Waking
2. (transitive) To discharge (for example, a claim or debt); to clear off, to pay off; to fulfil.
   Midst foes (as champion of the faith) he ment / That palme or cypress should his paines acquite; […] 1594, Torquato Tasso, translated by R[ichard] C[arew], Godfrey of Bulloigne, or The Recouerie of Hierusalem:[…], London: Imprinted by Iohn Windet for Christopher Hunt of Exceter, →OCLC; quoted in “Art. III. Godfrey of Bulloigne, or the Recouerie of Hierusalem.[…]”, in Henry Southern], editor, The Retrospective Review, volume III, part I, London: Charles and Henry Baldwin,[…], 1821, →OCLC, page 45
   […] I admit it to be not so much the duty as the privilege of an American citizen, to acquit this obligation to the memory of his fathers with discretion and generosity. […] [I]t is not the less true, that there are many ties, which ought to bind our feelings to the land of our fathers. It is characterstic of a magnanimous people to do justice to the merits of every other nation; especially of a nation with whom we have been at variance and are now in amity; and most especially of a nation of common blood. 4 July 1833, Edward Everett, An Address Delivered before the Citizens of Worcester on the Fourth of July, 1833, Boston, Mass.: Joseph T[inker] Buckingham, →OCLC, pages 11–12
3. (transitive) Followed by of (and formerly by from): to discharge, release, or set free from a burden, duty, liability, or obligation, or from an accusation or charge.
   The jury acquitted the prisoner of the charge.
   Jerome. Object to Antonio? I have said it; his poverty, can you acquit him of that? / Ferd[inand]. Sir, I own he is not over rich; but he is of as ancient and honourable a family, as any in the kingdom. 1775 November 21 (first performance), Richard Brinsley Sheridan, “The Duenna; a Comic Opera, in Three Acts;[…]”, in [Elizabeth] Inchbald, editor, The British Theatre;[…], volume XIX, London: Printed for Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme, […], published 1808, →OCLC, act II, scene iii, page 37
4. (reflexive) To bear or conduct oneself; to perform one's part.
   The soldier acquitted herself well in battle.
   The orator acquitted himself very poorly.
   [Paddy] McNair also acquitted himself well after [Marcos] Rojo was injured sliding into a challenge with Martín Demichelis […] 2 November 2014, Daniel Taylor, “Sergio Agüero strike wins derby for Manchester City against 10-man United”, in The Guardian, London, archived from the original on 2018-07-02
5. (reflexive) To clear oneself.
6. (transitive, archaic) past participle of acquit.
7. (transitive, obsolete) To release, to rescue, to set free.
8. (transitive, obsolete, rare) To pay for; to atone for.