Category:Acquit

Ac*quit", p. p.

Defn: Acquitted; set free; rid of. [Archaic] Shak.

Acquit Ac*quit", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Acquitted; p. pr. & vb. n. Acquitting.] Etym: [OE. aquiten, OF. aquiter, F. acquitter; (L. ad) + OF. quiter, F. quitter, to quit. See Quit, and cf. Acquiet.]

1. To discharge, as a claim or debt; to clear off; to pay off; to requite. A responsibility that can never be absolutely acquitted. I. Taylor.

2. To pay for; to atone for. [Obs.] Shak.

3. To set free, release or discharge from an obligation, duty, liability, burden, or from an accusation or charge; -- now followed by of before the charge, formerly by from; as, the jury acquitted the prisoner; we acquit a man of evil intentions.

4. Reflexively: (a) To clear one's self.k. (b) To bear or conduct one's self; to perform one's part; as, the soldier acquitted himself well in battle; the orator acquitted himself very poorly.

Syn.

-- To absolve; clear; exonerate; exonerate; exculpate; release; discharge. See Absolve.