Category:Innocence

In"no*cence, n. Etym: [F. innocence, L. innocentia. See Innocent.]

1. The state or quality of being innocent; freedom from that which is harmful or infurious; harmlessness.

2. The state or quality of being morally free from guilt or sin; purity of heart; blamelessness. The silence often of pure innocence Persuades when speaking fails. Shak. Banished from man's life his happiest life, Simplicity and spotless innocence! Milton.

3. The state or quality of being not chargeable for, or guilty of, a particular crime or offense; as, the innocence of the prisoner was clearly shown.

4. Simplicity or plainness, bordering on weakness or silliness; artlessness; ingenuousness. Chaucer. Shak.

Syn. -- Harmlessness; innocuousness; blamelessness; purity; sinlessness; guiltlessness.